Bryson DeChambeau reveals what’s next after LIV Golf contract expires
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Bryson DeChambeau was in a reflective mood as he spoke to the media ahead of his US Open defence. But he couldn’t resist giving us a little glimpse into his future with LIV Golf…
Bryson DeChambeau has poured cold water on any talk that he is prepared to quit LIV Golf when his contract expires at the end of the 2026 season.
The Crushers captain is among a number of star names whose contract with the league runs out next year – and that has set the rumor mill in motion that DeChambeau, as well as Brooks Koepka among others, is ready to return to the PGA Tour on a full-time basis.
Speaking to the press at Oakmont, where he is preparing for his US Open title defence, DeChambeau was asked if he has thought about what life looks like after his deal with LIV Golf is over.
“How do I phrase this?” he whispered, before confirming that “next year is when it ends”.
Suddenly more upbeat about his future with the Saudi-funded tour, he continued: “We’re looking to negotiate [at the] end of this year, and I’m very excited. 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. I’m super excited for the future. I think that LIV is not going anywhere.”
Turning his attention to the man who signs the checks for Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, DeChambeau said Yasir Al-Rumayyan – or “H.E.” as he calls him (His Excellency) – “has been steadfast in his belief on team golf”.
He added: “Whether everybody believes in it or not, I think it’s a viable option. I think it’s a viable commercial option.”
DeChambeau said his Crushers team has had a positive EBIDTA – a financial metric used to assess a company’s profitability and cash flow – for the past two years. “We’re starting to grow and move in the right direction.”
Speaking of team golf, TGL – the simulator league set up by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports venture – has had a largely successful first season.
“TGL has done a great job,” DeChambeau said. “They’ve got some teams that are making some money, and I believe there is a sustainable model out there. How it all works with the game of golf, who knows? But I know my worth. I know what LIV brings to the table. And I’m excited for the future of what golf is going to be.”
DeChambeau was reminded that, after his first US Open victory in 2020, his winner’s speech included thank-yous to a seemingly endless list of sponsors. Now, though, that number is much smaller.
Again, DeChambeau says he has his new tour to thank.
“In all honesty, LIV has been very freeing for me,” he said. “In a really good way, where the people that want to be with us want to be with us. We’ve got Qualcomm now, Reebok, I’m still with Rolex. I’ve had a great relationship with them for a long time, since I turned professional in 2016. And there are a few other partners, Google, that I’m working with now.
“If anything, it’s helped almost re-establish who wants to be a part of this, and I think that’s really cool. My perspective is ‘Who wants to be a part of the Crushers? Who wants to be a part of my YouTube content?’ It was a reset to see who wanted to be around and who wanted to continue to support and who I wanted to support, as well.
“I think it’s actually been a great thing, and from a sponsorship perspective, we’re starting to move now. We’ve got a lot of great revenue coming about, and probably in a year from now, I hope to unveil some incredible master plans of what we’re going to do with the Crushers and whatnot. There’s some exciting stuff down the line.”
It’s a much more measured outlook than the various versions of DeChambeau we’ve met down the years. So what does he put that down to?
“The past few years,” he said, before a brief pause. “Losing my father was difficult, and some other stuff happened, as well.
“For me, personally, it was a wakening moment for me to realize what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, why I’m playing this great game, and what I can do to inspire future generations.
“I view my legacy as not just winning golf tournaments. I view it as how much good can I do for the game outside of playing professionally. That’s a metric that I hold myself up to.
“The start is YouTube, but there is so much more that’s coming down the line, and that’s also what gets me up every day, as well.”
DeChambeau will get his US Open defence underway at 7.29am alongside his newest LIV Golf colleague, Jose Luis Ballester, and Xander Schauffele.
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Bryson DeChambeau has revealed his plans for when his LIV Golf contract expires.
