Bryson DeChambeau announces next big project after LIV Golf collapse

Bryson DeChambeau has unveiled an ambitious new golf project in California as the two-time US Open champion continues to contemplate his competitive future following LIV Golf's collapse.

The 33-year-old American has yet to confirm where he will play in 2027, with uncertainty surrounding his next move after the end of the breakaway league.

However, DeChambeau has now revealed his first major project away from the course, announcing plans for The Orchard Golf Club in his hometown of Clovis.

The proposed development will be built at the historic McFarlane Ranch, directly across the road from Clovis East High School, where DeChambeau attended as a teenager.

Working alongside the Cook family and Cook Land Company, DeChambeau has acquired the site with ambitions of creating a championship golf destination that also serves the local community.

The Orchard is expected to feature an 18-hole championship course, a world-class practice facility, a master-planned residential community and an on-site farmers market. 

DeChambeau's team will design the course and practice facilities, with the project also marking the beginning of what he describes as the first of many fully procured DeChambeau Designs.

One of the more distinctive features of the proposed course will be the inclusion of different fruit and nut trees surrounding each hole, reflecting the agricultural heritage of California's Central Valley.

The development will also include amenities designed to expand access to golf for local children and schools, an aspect DeChambeau has particularly emphasised in his announcement.

In a statement addressed to residents of Clovis, the Central Valley and California, the golfer explained why returning to his roots was important.

"The Central Valley has always been a community built on hard work, character, and discipline," he wrote.

"For those of us who grew up here – including myself, attending Clovis East High School – there is a deep responsibility to give back to the region that provided us with so much."

DeChambeau added that the project had been conceived as an opportunity to invest in the area and create a development that genuinely benefits the community.

The former World No.4 also provided an update on the planning process, revealing that discussions have been ongoing since 2022.

Despite the complexities of development regulations in California, DeChambeau said the City of Clovis and Fresno County had been working closely with his team. 

Approval is anticipated within 18 months, although some facilities, including a driving range, could become available sooner.

The former Crushers GC captain also urged continued local support to help accelerate the process.

"Ultimately, it's time to make a better future for our next generation," DeChambeau wrote.

"We are dedicated to 'Building Stars of the Future,' and it is our hope that this will be a place where everyone in the world can come and enjoy the fruits of our labor here in the Central Valley."

While the development represents a significant undertaking away from professional golf, the bigger question surrounding DeChambeau remains where he will compete next season.

Under current rules, the American may have to wait until at least August 2027 before returning to the PGA Tour, although he has the option of applying for DP World Tour membership given his status as a recent major champion.

DeChambeau has also built a hugely successful YouTube channel, potentially providing him with an alternative platform should he decide against returning to regular tour competition.

However, former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has warned that such a move could seriously damage his chances of winning further major championships.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, McGinley was asked whether he could envisage DeChambeau focusing on content creation while attempting to remain competitive in the four men's majors.

"I can see it," McGinley said. "It will be a dumb move. I mean, to go from playing YouTube golf to trying to compete in majors."

The Golf Channel analyst argued that players who spent prolonged periods competing on LIV Golf became increasingly disconnected from the demands of major championship golf.

McGinley acknowledged that DeChambeau won the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst and Brooks Koepka claimed the 2023 PGA Championship, but insisted that LIV was not the ideal platform for preparing to consistently contend in the majors.

He also pointed to Jon Rahm, who joined LIV at the end of 2023 after winning the Masters and reaching World No.1, as an example of how a player's competitive standing can change.

"The longer Bryson stays away and off traditional platforms, the less chance he has of winning major championships going forward," McGinley added.

DeChambeau has promised to approach his next career decision with "humility and respect", but has yet to reveal his plans for the upcoming season.

With the deadline to apply for DP World Tour membership falling on November 15, the American faces an increasingly significant decision over his future.

For now, The Orchard represents an ambitious new venture for DeChambeau, although where he will compete next year remains the bigger question.