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mark schlabach
multiple authors
STERLING, VA – If LIV Golf can’t survive beyond this season without a purse from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau Tuesday said he is ready to grow his YouTube channel and play in tournaments that want him.
DeChambeau, 32, said he has had some conversations with the PGA Tour, but not specifically about what a potential path back to his former circuit might look like if LIV closes.
“I think, from my standpoint, I would love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more,” DeChambeau said while practicing Tuesday in preparation for this week’s LIV golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club.
“I would love to. I would love to do a lot of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more opportunities to watch YouTube. And then I would love to play in tournaments that want me.”
Although DeChambeau did not provide specific details, he suggested that the PGA Tour was prepared to give him severe penalties if he wanted to come back.
DeChambeau was one of the biggest stars to join the breakaway circuit in June 2022, and he was one of 11 golfers who sued the PGA Tour later that year, alleging it used its monopoly power to unfairly suspend players who joined LIV Golf. He withdrew from the federal trial in May 2023.
On Tuesday, DeChambeau called the potential punishment from the PGA Tour “quite unfortunate in my opinion, considering what I could have done for them.”
Additionally, DeChambeau suggested that LIV Golf and the PGA Tour needed to work together to reunify men’s professional golf.
It appears the PGA Tour now has the upper hand, with the PIF announcing last week that it will no longer fund the circuit with its $30 million purse.
“Ego needs to be given up,” DeChambeau said. “Everyone needs to come together on a level playing field with the same opportunistic mentality to move the game of golf forward. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I do what I do on YouTube.”
Before last week’s announcement, DeChambeau believed the PIF would finance LIV Golf at least through the 2032 season.
“I was completely stunned,” DeChambeau said. “I didn’t expect it to happen. A few months before that, it was like, ‘We’re here until 2032. We’ve got financing until 2032,’ and so I told everybody, and that’s what I was told.
“And then, you know, I have no communication. And unfortunately, things moved in a different direction. Obviously, they wanted to move forward.”
DeChambeau said a potential merger between the tours would require concessions from both sides.
“If we have a great business model and they’re very interested in combining forces, it’s a Kumbaya moment, right?” DeChambeau said. “So, it’s our job to come up with a better business plan [top company] Side. Team franchises are now making enough profits to the point where we could sell them for about $200 million, and that’s not even talking about my team.
“I think it requires everyone to let their guard down and everyone to come together and move on, ‘Okay, what’s best for the game of golf?’”
DeChambeau said he is confident that LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil and the league’s new independent board of directors and advisors will develop a solid business plan that will attract new investors.
“There are a few different models,” DeChambeau said. “Look [PGA Tour] Not performing well either. Let’s be honest about the situation. They’ve got the media. They have everyone who helps promote it. “But they are downsizing, cutting headcount and also restructuring their business.”
It won’t be long before DeChambeau will have to decide his future. His contract with LIV Golf expires after this season.
When DeChambeau was asked if he was concerned about PIF not paying the remainder of his contract, he said, “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Earlier on Tuesday, O’Neill was asked if DeChambeau would have a new contract before LIV Golf was put on the market.
“Well, that’s an interesting question,” O’Neill said. “I’m not sure. We’ll figure out a solution and work out. I appreciate the question. Bryson is special. He’s different and special. … He’s smart, he’s driven, he’s committed, and he’s a great teammate.”
