Questions are being raised about what Bryson DeChambeau will do next after Brooks Koepka chose to walk away from LIV Golf before the 2026 season.
Koepka is the first high-profile player to seek an exit from LIV, coming to terms with the tour just before the last year of his contract.
LIV now finds itself in a tough spot. Time will tell if other players decide to follow Koepka out or if he remains the exception rather than the start of a trend.
DeChambeau responded in an unexpected way when asked about Koepka’s exit. Earlier in the year, at the US Open, he spoke positively about LIV’s direction. But more recently, his comments were noticeably less enthusiastic.
Bryson DeChambeau may be better off remaining with LIV Golf
If Bryson DeChambeau chose to leave LIV, it would put the organisation under even more pressure. Given that scenario, it’s clear just how much leverage the Crushers captain now holds.
Still, there are voices suggesting DeChambeau might be better off staying put, regardless of where things go from here.
Speaking on The Smylie Show, Smylie Kaufman suggested that LIV’s format may actually suit DeChambeau more than any other player, and that going back to the PGA Tour could end up hurting his value.
Kaufman said: “When I try to picture Bryson playing on the PGA Tour, it’s a little bit more difficult for me to picture him back on the PGA Tour versus a guy like Brooks. Brooks, to me, fits right in.”
“He’s a player I think fits perfectly in the signature event model to where all the events feel a little bit bigger. His schedule will be a little bit more condensed. I think it suits him a little bit more. Whereas Bryson, I don’t know, it just feels like he’s found himself a little bit on LIV,” he added.
According to Kaufman: “He is the show over at LIV Golf. It is all about Bryson over there. I think most of that attention, it will be on him early.”
“But if he’s not playing good golf, it kind of goes away a little bit on the PGA Tour,” he continued.
“On LIV every day he is the main attraction… In my head when I’m debating these two coming back I think Brooks is bothered by the lack of competition that he feels and that sense of competing against the best… Bryson… I don’t think he’s bothered by it quite as much.”
Kaufman also pointed out: “One thing too that I think about with Bryson and LIV Golf… Having security – your job is safe – means a lot because you’re able to focus on your YouTube schedule [or whatever] … Just go play your LIV schedule and not worry about losing your job.”
Kaufman then outlined how DeChambeau could lose his status quickly if changes were made:
It certainly seems like DeChambeau would need some guarantees from whichever path he chooses next.
Why reducing PGA Tour Cards further would be a mistake
Before making any decisions about his future, DeChambeau would be smart to wait and see how things unfold for Koepka first.
If Koepka ends up spending a year on the DP World Tour, it’s tough to see DeChambeau leaving LIV in the near future.
But even if he did return, it’s hard to imagine him losing his card. The signature events give top players a significant advantage, and once you’re inside the top 50, it’s not easy to fall out.
Kaufman does point out that there could be major changes ahead. But the PGA Tour won’t want to go so far that they risk pushing some of their top names away.
DeChambeau is one of the few players whose move between tours could still make headlines. If he’s thinking about returning, the PGA Tour will want to make sure nothing stands in his way.
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