Bryson DeChambeau either didn’t see the question coming (unlikely) or didn’t much care to answer it (more likely). But when Jason Zone Fisher, the high-energy moderator at LIV Golf’s captains’ press conference Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Fla., asked DeChambeau for his take on “the significant news in the golf world yesterday,” DeChambeau looked about as enthused as an endodontist’s patient settling into the chair.
That news was, of course, the PGA Tour’s Monday announcement that Brooks Koepka was coming home — and that three of LIV’s other biggest stars, DeChambeau among them, were, under the Tour’s new and highly specific Returning Member protocol, welcome to join him, up until Feb. 2, anyway.
“Yeah, I mean, look,” DeChambeau said with a sigh and raise of his eyebrows that said, This topic . . . again?!
“I’m contracted through 2026, so I’m excited about this year.”
Nothing about his curt, monotone response conveyed excitement, but then again, DeChambeau’s words and quirks can be hard to decipher. They certainly were during his Tuesday-afternoon session with reporters. Later, when asked about a curious photo he’d posted of himself Monday standing next to an exit sign — which any reasonable person might have assumed was a playful nod to his ongoing negotiations with LIV and the potential for his cutting ties — DeChambeau said, “There’s this new viral trend around exit signs, so I just wanted to show that off in a new way.”
Cryptic, right? Bizarre, too. But that’s DeChambeau — ever the showman but not always buttoned up with his delivery in these unscripted settings. Here’s what we do know: DeChambeau’s initial LIV deal expires at the end of this year; he and his team are negotiating an extension with LIV brass; those talks are ongoing; and DeChambeau has said he would be willing to walk if he doesn’t get the arrangement he’s seeking.
What’s his number? The mind reels. On DeChambeau’s first go-around, in 2022, he pocketed “somewhat close” (his words) to $125 million for a four-and-a-half year commitment. This time? At least double that feels attainable. So does 4x. Really, when you consider his employer’s generous comp budget paired with DeChambeau’s incalculable value to the league’s visibility and other marketing efforts, there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t collect Soto-, Mahomes- or Messi-type money. Just ask the guy with whom DeChambeau is negotiating.
“He’s the biggest star in the game,” LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said in a press conference Wednesday. “He’s an elite human being. He’s talented. He’s wonderful. He’s a social-media darling. You go from Augusta to Adelaide and people are — fans are losing their minds. He is a guy who kids absolutely adore and love. He gets the vision. He gets the mission. He’s a true businessman.”
O’Neil’s glowing review didn’t end there.
“This is a generational talent, and I don’t mean golfer,” he continued. “He’s a generational talent in terms of an athlete. I’ve told him that privately, and I’ll say it publicly. He is a really, really special human being and talent. Everything he stands for is good about the game and good about this next generation of golf, and I expect him to be at LIV for a very long time.”
That’s the thing, though. DeChambeau has not articulated his long-term intentions, at least not publicly. Playing it cool is a classic dealmaking tactic, but DeChambeau has been pushing toward chilly, if not downright cold.
“Having him stand up [Tuesday] and say, ‘Check, I’m in,’ was really nice,” O’Neil said. That felt like an optimistic reading; DeChambeau’s remarks, in fact, left him plenty of wiggle room. Yes, he seems likely to finish out his current deal, but beyond that remains an open question.
A third door is open, too: On Wednesday, in an interview with Front Office Sports reporter David Rumsey, DeChambeau said that becoming, in essence, a full-time YouTube golfer, interspersed with cameos at the majors, is an “incredibly viable option,” adding his YouTube exploits keep his game “dialed in.” DeChambeau told Rumsey that he’s hopeful his conversations with LIV leadership land him in a deal that “makes sense for the long term, and, if not, we’ll play this year and see what happens.”
See what happens. That’s typical of how DeChambeau discusses his plans these days. Always with an out clause.
Many of us hit crossroads in our careers, but DeChambeau’s is a doozy: re-up with LIV for what’s likely to be one of the biggest contracts in sports history; return to the PGA Tour and rob LIV of its crown jewel; or largely forego tour life and continue to blaze a trail in a space where birdies and bogeys matter far less than viewers and subscribers.
Maybe DeChambeau made up his mind months ago. Maybe he’s deeply invested in LIV and is simply holding out for more money. But maybe not. Maybe he’s unsure about his next steps, and maybe Koepka’s departure has given DeChambeau further pause. Maybe he’s been secretly meeting with the PGA Tour and Brian Rolapp to sketch out his own exit.
Maybe we’ll get clarity here shortly. But . . . yeah, probably not.
The author welcomes your comments at alan.bastable@golf.com.
