Bryson DeChambeau, left, has suggested he might turn his focus to his YouTube channel if LIV Golf disbands.
Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Bryson DeChambeau may still be uncertain about his future if he doesn’t re-sign with LIV Golf next season, but Rory McIlroy made it clear on Friday what he thinks of the alternatives.
“If you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, this (the PGA Tour) is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you,” McIlroy told reporters at the Truist Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
McIlroy didn’t mention DeChambeau by name, nor is DeChambeau the only LIV golfer who has expressed reluctance to return to the PGA Tour should LIV cease to exist. But with all due respect to Anirban Lahiri, his Crushers teammate’s situation carries far more weight in the golf world these days.
DeChambeau’s contract with LIV expires after the 2026 season, giving him significant leverage during a turbulent period for the rebel league. As LIV CEO Scott O’Neil and his board seek new investment to replace the departing financing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the two-time U.S. Open winner with 2.69 million YouTube subscribers remains a crucial figure to retain.
The Athletic previously reported that DeChambeau’s team held multiple meetings at the Masters to explore his options. He hasn’t ruled out returning to LIV, but it’s not simply a choice between the two rival men’s professional golf tours.
DeChambeau has made it clear he’s open to stepping away from tour golf entirely, creating content for his YouTube channel and competing in “tournaments that want me,” as he told ESPN on Tuesday.
Should DeChambeau want to return to the PGA Tour, he would face penalties stemming from his original defection to LIV in 2022. He also participated in a lawsuit against the PGA Tour and voiced frustration to Skratch over the tour’s policies regarding player filming before and during events.
McIlroy was at the forefront of the initial opposition to LIV, though he later softened his stance and hasn’t held a leadership role on the tour in recent seasons. His comments on Friday made it clear he remains engaged and is willing to be open-minded about players returning from LIV.
“It all depends on what happens to LIV. But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think (PGA Tour CEO) Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That’s just good business practice,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy and DeChambeau are scheduled to meet next week at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia.
