Two-time major winner Bryson DeChambeau is exploring options beyond LIV Golf with the circuit facing an uncertain future.
DeChambeau remains one of the biggest stars in the golf world and the value he brings to the LIV Tour cannot be understated. His social media following, including a YouTube channel that draws millions of viewers, has been a massive gain for LIV Golf in recent years. However, with the circuit facing questions about its future, DeChambeau already has started looking elsewhere, per reports.
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Playing in the final year of his contract with LIV, DeChambeau’s asking price to return has skyrocketed. Furthremore, the PGA is also looking at options to help former LIV golfers return.
Is DeChambeau really looking elsewhere from LIV?
According to The Athletic, absolutely. The report indicates that DeChambeau and his team actually spent a good chunk of Masters weekend “meeting with organizations to discuss possible options if he chose to leave LIV.”
And it appears DeChambeau is dead set on that decision. His asking price to re-sign with LIV Golf has reportedly jumped up to $500 million. That said, DeChambeau did play in LIV’s latest tournament in Mexico City this past weekend, and fans saw DeChambeau laughing alongside LIV CEO Scott O’Neil on the first fairway, so perhaps his departure is being overblown.
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Regardless, DeChambeau’s future with LIV is certainly in limbo. The Saudi Public Investment Fund, which has long been what keeps money flowing into LIV Golf, did not mention the company in their news release on April 14 announcing their 2026-2030 strategic vision.
What will happen if DeChambeau tries to return to the PGA Tour?
There are multiple paths that DeChambeau could take if he were to return. Just this year, former LIV golfers Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed took different approaches to their returns.
Koepka forewent the final year of his contract with LIV in order to apply for reinstatement with the PGA Tour. This led to the PGA’s creation of the Returning Member Program, which disabled Koepka from earning equity from the player equity program for the next five years (2026-2030).
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Reed, meanwhile, last played in a LIV Golf tournament on Aug. 24 last year, meaning he is eligible to compete on the PGA Tour again as a non-member as early as Aug. 25, 2026. Furthermore, any events that Reed plays on the DP World Tour will not increase his standing with the PGA Tour.
PGA CEO Brian Rolapp has discussed potential avenues for returning players beyond what we’ve seen with Koepka and Reed. Furthermore, Rolapp told The Athletic that the “Returning Member Program” that helped bring Koepka back was just a one-time deal with a three-week window to make a decision. No other golfers jumped at the opportunity.
All that is to say that DeChambeau likely won’t take a similar path to either Koepka or Reed should he decide he wants to return to the PGA.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bryson DeChambeau: Where will golfer go after LIV?
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