Rusty Weiss
Two-time U.S. Open champ Bryson DeChambeau expressed shock after learning that Saudi-backed funding for LIV Golf will end after the 2026 season. He had been under a very different impression, it seems.
The 32-year-old golfer admitted he was caught completely off guard by the sudden collapse of the tour’s financial support from the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Just months earlier, he had been assured that funding was locked in through 2032, making the abrupt pivot even more jarring for the high-profile star and his fellow players.
“I was completely shocked,” said DeChambeau. “I didn’t expect it to happen. A couple months before that, it’s 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 haven’t had any communication. And unfortunately, things are moving on in a different direction. Obviously, they wanted to move on.”
DeChambeau Eyes Dramatic Shift as LIV Future Crumbles
Now, the loss of massive financial backing for LIV is casting major uncertainty over the breakaway league’s future and potentially paving the way for a reunification with the PGA Tour.
Will Bryson be a part of that? It’s complicated. In fact, DeChambeau revealed he is ready to shift focus dramatically if LIV folds.
He told reporters he would love to grow his already popular YouTube golf channel, including dubbing content in different languages to expand its global reach. While he expressed interest in still playing select tournaments that want him, the comments signal a potential major pivot away from a full-time competitive schedule.
“I think, from my perspective, I’d love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more,” DeChambeau told reporters. “I would love to. I’d love to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more reason to watch YouTube. And then I’d love to play tournaments that want me.”
🚨JUST IN: Youtuber, Bryson DeChambeau, plans to focus on growing his channel instead of returning to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf shuts down. pic.twitter.com/fSynElUVR9
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) May 6, 2026
That “want me” part is very telling.
He also criticized potential PGA Tour penalties for LIV defectors as “quite unfortunate,” arguing that egos need to be set aside for the good of the game. Which seems to be the biggest stumbling block here — how the PGA Tour decides to treat those who defected to LIV Golf. Will there be punishment?
“The egos need to get dropped,” he said. “Everybody needs to come in with a level-headed playing field, with an opportunistic mindset to grow the game of golf. That’s why I came over here. That’s why I do what I do on YouTube.”
DeChambeau warned the PGA Tour against punishing those who decided to pursue opportunities with LIV, especially himself, “considering what I could do for them.”
President Trump recently suggested that if the Tour is going to levy fines, great, but they need to move on after that. Because he’s excited to see all of the pro golfers competing against each other again.
“The tour wants to have the best players. You can’t have the best player that they’re boycotting now. They may do something, you know, a little bit, but they’ll all be back on tour, and it’ll be great,” Trump said.
LIV Golf launched in 2022 with a flashy, team-based, shorter-format model designed to disrupt traditional golf. While it delivered massive paydays and some memorable moments, it struggled with consistent viewership and mainstream acceptance in the U.S.
This latest shift could mark the beginning of the end of golf’s most contentious split in decades.
There’s no reason for the PGA Tour to try to make an example out of those who went to play at LIV Golf. They won. Everybody knows it. Now go and capitalize on the fact that you’ll have storylines galore when players like Jon Rahm and DeChambeau compete against the likes of Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler.
The heel/babyface interactions between players and fans will send PGA viewership into the stratosphere.
