Bryson DeChambeau Reaffirms Commitment to LIV Golf Ahead of Contract Expiry
OAKMONT, Pennsylvania – As the golf world turns its attention to Oakmont Country Club for the upcoming U.S. Open, one of the sport’s most polarizing and influential figures, Bryson DeChambeau, has added more intrigue to the future of professional golf. The two-time major champion revealed this week that while his current contract with LIV Golf is set to expire next year, he is not planning a return to the PGA Tour or any other circuit.
DeChambeau, who joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league in 2022, has been the subject of months of speculation amid ongoing negotiations and uncertainties. Some reports claimed that he had declined a new contract in favor of moving back to the PGA. But speaking ahead of his U.S. Open title defense, DeChambeau made his intentions clear.
“We’re looking to negotiate end of this year, and I’m very excited,” said DeChambeau, who captains Crushers GC, one of LIV Golf’s 12 team franchises. “They see the value in me. I see the value in what they can provide, and I believe we’ll come to some sort of resolution on that. Super excited for the future.”
LIV Golf debuted in June 2022, shaking up the traditional golf landscape by offering no-cut, 54-hole events with massive prize purses. Its backers, led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), have invested heavily in recruiting some of the golf world’s biggest names.
A proposed merger between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour has lingered in limbo for two years since a reported “framework agreement” was introduced in an attempt to unify the game into a singular commercial entity. However, no finalized deal has materialized to date.
Commenting on LIV’s future and its possible integration into the professional golf mainstream, DeChambeau doubled down on his belief in LIV’s long-term viability.
“I think that LIV is not going anywhere,” said DeChambeau, who is among the 14 LIV players teeing it up at this week’s U.S. Open.
“(Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan) has been steadfast in his belief on team golf, and whether everybody believes in it or not, I think it’s a viable option. I think it’s a viable commercial option.”
Throughout his LIV tenure, DeChambeau has been an outspoken advocate for the team-based model unique to the league—a format he believes has untapped financial and fan-engagement potential.
“Our team has been EBITDA positive for the past two years, so we’re starting to grow and move in the right direction, just like TGL,” he said.
Created by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, TGL is another new player in golf’s evolving ecosystem. The tech-forward, indoor golf league made headlines with its simulator-based gameplay and dynamic, rotating green surfaces.
“TGL has done a great job. They’ve got some teams that are making some money, and I believe there is a sustainable model out there,” added DeChambeau.
He acknowledged that while the long-term harmony between all these emerging golf entities remains to be seen, his personal alignment with LIV Golf is reaffirmed by both his business confidence and professional preferences.
“How it all works with the game of golf, who knows, but I know my worth. I know what LIV brings to the table,” DeChambeau said. “And I’m excited for the future of what golf is going to be.”
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