Bryson DeChambeau has unsurprisingly questioned the idea that he should be forced to start on the Korn Ferry Tour should he leave LIV Golf and attempt to return to the PGA Tour.
DeChambeau’s future is extremely uncertain. The golfing world is still awaiting news concerning LIV’s push to secure fresh investment from next season.
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It appears almost certain that LIV Golf will look drastically different next year, if the league is able to continue at all.
That may tempt some players to consider their futures, including Bryson DeChambeau. DeChambeau’s management team reportedly met with PGA Tour officials during The Masters.
Bryson DeChambeau suggests how LIV Golf players should be treated if they return to the PGA Tour
DeChambeau was looking to find out how a potential return would look. He, of course, had the opportunity to come back under the same terms as Brooks Koepka at the start of the year.
Some now want LIV players keen on a return to face even harsher punishments, with Tom Lehman even suggesting that they should start on the Korn Ferry Tour and be forced to work their way back up.
Those comments were put to DeChambeau during an interview with Beyond the Clubhouse, and the two-time US Open champion suggested it would be a waste to force him onto that level.
“I don’t know. Everybody has their opinion and I respect his opinion. I think there is other options for me,” he said.
“Is it valuable? Yeah. Are we working to build a product out here at LIV? Hopefully. Everybody thinks it’s going away right away but I don’t know about that.
“I think there is opportunity for team golf. I hope people understand, especially as some of us players have exemptions which are still outstanding.
“If somebody doesn’t have Tour membership or hasn’t had Tour membership or has exemption status I think there are routes to get back on the Tour if they want to do that.
“For players that do have exemptions I think it’s fair that we utilise those exemptions.
“For me it’s about how can I impact the game in the most positive way. Whether you believe that I’m doing that or not, it’s what I want to do.”
Why the PGA Tour would be so wrong to hand Bryson DeChambeau preferential treatment
Like LIV, there is uncertainty surrounding the PGA Tour. From 2028, the tour will be split into two tiers, with the marquee names playing on the Championship Series.
It is not clear how much the Challenger Series will impact the Korn Ferry Tour. A larger number of players currently on the feeder tour will presumably be promoted ahead of 2028.
So perhaps the Challenger Series would be the ideal home for all of those on LIV who decide to return to the PGA Tour.
Those, like DeChambeau, who are more than good enough to get back to the top tier will only have to spend a year on the second track. They could get promoted even sooner with a couple of victories.
Meanwhile, it would hand the Challenger Series an immediate boost to have a handful of household names come in and elevate the profile of several other players.
LIV has not been a success, so DeChambeau has no right to suggest that he deserves any preferential treatment.
And there will be a lot of anger if he gets it.
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