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Bryson DeChambeau has thrown his lot in with LIV Golf for the 2026 season, yet the golfer’s continued allegiance to the Saudi-backed league hangs in the balance. A recent strategic shift by LIV Golf could potentially prompt DeChambeau to reconsider his involvement.
The league is set to transition from its signature three-round, 54-hole format to a more conventional four-round, 72-hole format starting in 2026. This move marks a significant departure from the original concept, with the league’s very name, LIV, symbolizing the number 54 in Roman numerals.
DeChambeau expressed his surprise at this development in a conversation with Today’s Golfer. “It’s definitely changed away from what we had initially been told it was going to be,” he stated. The shift has sparked curiosity and some skepticism among players, including DeChambeau, who questions the reasons behind the change. “We were told it was going to be this. So that’s definitely made us have some different thoughts about it.”
While DeChambeau remains under contract for the current season, he is taking a wait-and-see approach regarding the league’s evolution. “Look, it’s 72 holes, it’s changed, but we’re still excited to play professionally,” he remarked, acknowledging both the opportunities and uncertainties the format change brings. Despite his reservations, DeChambeau remains optimistic about the prospects for his Crushers GC team. However, he admits, “Is it what we ultimately signed up for? No. So I think we’re supposed to be different, so I’m a little indifferent to it right now.”
“I’ve got a contract for this year, and we’ll go through it there and see what happens after that. Look, it’s 72 holes, it’s changed, but we’re still excited to play professionally and play for what we’re doing and go across the world. I think it’s going to be great for our [Crushers GC] team. Is it what we ultimately signed up for? No. So I think we’re supposed to be different, so I’m a little indifferent to it right now.
“Hopefully, it weighs positively on me over the course of time, but you never know. I’m not sure. We didn’t sign up to play for 72.”
Brooks Koepka, who left the PGA Tour for LIV in 2022, recently departed LIV to return via the Tour’s new Returning Member Program, a “one-time” window for high-performing golfers that closes Monday. Koepka just competed in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines this past weekend, finishing tied for 56th at 4-under, 19 shots behind winner Justin Rose.
Patrick Reed is also leaving LIV for a PGA Tour return, though he didn’t qualify for the Returning Member Program because he didn’t win a major or the Players from 2022-25; he’s eligible to play on the Tour starting on Aug. 25, a year after his last LIV event.
DeChambeau previously floated the idea of focusing full-time on his YouTube channel, which boasts 2.58 million subscribers, and playing only in major championships.
“That’s an incredibly viable option, I’ll tell you that,” he told Front Office Sports.