A return to the PGA Tour seems to be trickier than Bryson DeChambeau may have envisioned, and the popular golfer may take a different career path if LIV Golf isn’t able to survive past this season.
DeChambeau, like many of the other LIV Golf players, is facing plenty of questions about his future after it was revealed that the Saudi Public Investment Fund will pull its financial backing of the rebel golf league after this season.
But with the possibility of facing harsh penalties to get back onto the PGA Tour after his 2022 decision to join LIV, DeChambeau, 32, is contemplating simply focusing on his YouTube channel and appearing in tournaments that are interested in his participation.
Bryson DeChambeau of Crushers GC plays his shot from the 3rd tee during day one of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 16, 2026 in Mexico City. Getty Images
“I think, from my perspective, I’d love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more,” DeChambeau told ESPN on Tuesday ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Virginia event at Trump National. “I would love to. I’d love to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more reason to watch YouTube.
“And then I’d love to play tournaments that want me.”
DeChambeau has created a popular channel on the platform, and it has helped endear him to a younger generation of golf fans as part of the YouTube golf explosion during the past few years.
Reports recently surfaced that DeChambeau spent time during the Masters talking with officials about a pathway back to the PGA Tour.
During his conversation with ESPN on Tuesday, he described the possible punishment as “quite unfortunate,” though he didn’t give any specifics of what it could be.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau and retired professional golfer Gary Player during an event held for National Youth Sports and Fitness Month, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 5, 2026. REUTERS
DeChambeau’s departure was a bit messier than others, as he had been part of the group of 11 golfers who sued the PGA Tour in a federal antitrust lawsuit, alleging it operated a monopoly that used its powers unfairly to punish those who left for LIV.
He eventually withdrew from the suit in May 2023.
DeChambeau called the Saudi’s decision “completely shocking” and believed that the PIF would fund the league through at least 2032.
“I didn’t expect it to happen. A couple months before that, it’s like, ‘We’re here until 2032. We’ve got financing until 2032,’ and so I told everybody, and that’s what I was told,” DeChambeau said. “And then, you know, I haven’t had any communication. And unfortunately, things are moving on in a different direction. Obviously, they wanted to move on.”
DeChambeau’s contract with LIV runs out after this season, and when asked if he had any concerns about not being paid out the rest of his deal, he replied, “Your guess is as good as mine.”