After Brooks Koepka returned to the PGA Tour under the Returning Member Program, all eyes focused on Bryson DeChambeau. But DeChambeau has virtually no financial incentive to walk away from LIV Golf. 

Famed journalist Dan Rappaport took to X and wrote, “If I’m Bryson DeChambeau, I’m going into that LIV contract negotiation asking, with a straight face, for 500 million U.S. dollars. If he leaves, it’s over. Leverage on leverage on leverage.”

LIV’s value proposition is based on scarcity and star power. With DeChambeau on their roster, the league has been able to garner attention via sponsorships and broadcasts.

If we talk about finances, DeChambeau has earned $47 million from four years on LIV Golf and just $29.9 million from seven years on the PGA Tour. 

Rob Brooks further added to Rappaport’s views claiming, “Even if the numbers $200m do you really think @brysondech would give that up just to play a different set of tour events elsewhere for $0 & have to pay out $5m to do it? If PGAT offered him $200m he might half think about it! ❌”

Right now, the PGA Tour cannot match the financial benefits that LIV Golf offers Bryson DeChambeau. All it can offer is competitive prestige. On the other hand, the two-time major champion is more valuable for the Saudi-backed league. This means he can ask for more money to stay. 

DeChambeau holds the audience and makes sales for LIV Golf. Without him, the league would enter certain turbulence. And that’s the greatest leverage he has on LIV Golf. 

But what did the 32-year-old have to say regarding a potential move to the PGA Tour?

Bryson DeChambeau Gets Honest about PGA Tour Return

During a recent conversation with Today’s Golfer’s Ben Parsons at the LIV Golf preview event, DeChambeau weighed in on the chances of him following Koepka’s footsteps to the PGA Tour. 

“I’ve got a contract this year, and that’s just going to be an ever-evolving conversation,” DeChambeau said. “Hopefully, I’m back next year. I’m excited for the potential of LIV.” 

“It just has to make sense for both sides, and we’ll move forward in a cool direction if that’s the case. I certainly don’t want to let [my Crushers teammates] down.”

DeChambeau controls rare leverage through financial security and star power. Until the PGA Tour matches certainty with guarantees, LIV Golf remains his most logical and profitable home.

Written by

Krushna Pattnaik

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu