LIV Golf should not be worried about the possibility of Bryson DeChambeau walking away when his deal is up at the end of this season.
There was a time when it seemed like LIV’s future might hinge on keeping DeChambeau, especially after Brooks Koepka decided to leave.
DeChambeau probably remains LIV’s biggest star. And given how valuable he is to the league, it was not surprising to see him play coy about his future after Koepka’s exit.
Bryson DeChambeau’s contract renewal saga could take a U-turn
The Crushers captain’s contract is set to run out at the end of the season, and reports suggest DeChambeau wants $500 million for a new deal. LIV has not ruled out meeting those demands.
But with three events now played in the new season, there is growing talk that LIV should rethink its position and make it clear that DeChambeau may need to compromise if he wants a new deal with the league.
It has been a relatively quiet start to the year for the two-time US Open champion. His best result came in Adelaide, though even that was overshadowed by Anthony Kim coming from five shots back to beat both him and Jon Rahm on the final day.
He has not finished inside the top 15 in either Riyadh or Hong Kong. For someone of his stature, one LIV win since early 2024 is not cutting it.
LIV Golf needs so much more from Bryson DeChambeau to justify $500 million demands
Losing DeChambeau would still be a blow for LIV, and plenty of critics would be ready to declare it another sign of decline. But even with his star power, there has not been a noticeable lift in the league’s viewing numbers.
Rory McIlroy has suggested that LIV may have to spend up to $6 billion just to maintain its current position in the sport, and as more contracts come up for renewal, that prediction does not seem far-fetched.
DeChambeau’s on-course form is not helping his case for a new deal worth half a billion dollars. Jon Rahm remains the face of the league and is already looking strong in his bid for a third straight individual title. Rahm has not finished outside the top two in any of this season’s first three events.
If Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is not concerned with making LIV financially viable and is purely focused on influence within golf, then keeping DeChambeau makes sense regardless of form.
But with the gap between DeChambeau and golf’s top three – Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, and Rory McIlroy – seemingly growing wider, LIV has every reason to push back on his contract demands until he starts delivering more consistently.
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