Bryson DeChambeau pulls out of LIV Golf event as questions mount over league's future

Bryson DeChambeau withdrew ahead of the final round of LIV Golf's tournament in Mexico City. 

The 32-year-old American, who criticised the course conditions earlier this week, cited a wrist injury as the reason for the surprise withdrawal. 

DeChambeau, who missed the cut at last week's Masters, was on a 54-hole total of two-over par and was 16 shots adrift of Jon Rahm's lead. 

He opened the sixth event of the campaign with back-to-back 71s before adding a 73 yesterday at Club de Golf Chapultepec.  

"I experienced some discomfort in my wrist during yesterday's round and have decided to withdraw from the final round of LIV Golf Mexico City to prevent further injury," DeChambeau said in a statement posted on his social media channels. 

"[It is] not how I wanted this week to go, but [I am] wishing the Crushers a strong finish.

"I'm going to take a few days to get evaluated and hope to be ready for LIV Golf Virginia."

DeChambeau was replaced in the field by young Mexican Luis Carrera. 

His mid-competition withdrawal comes amid a tumultuous week where the future of the breakaway tour has come under sharp focus.

It has been reported by several outlets, including the Financial Times, New York Times and the Athletic, that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is ending its financial support for LIV at the end of the season. 

LIV Golf's chief executive, Scott O'Neil, sent a defiant message to his players before the tournament began, insisting it was business as usual and that their season continues at "full throttle". 

But he since appeared to all but indicate the reports were in fact true by saying during an interview on TNT Sports that the league was funded until the end of the season. 

The clip was deleted and re-posted with those comments omitted.

He said he would "work like crazy" to keep the league going. 

"The reality is, you're funded through the season, and then you work like crazy as a business to create a business and a business plan to keep us going," he said. 

"But that's not different from any other private equity-funded business in the history of mankind."

The PIF is yet to comment on the reporting. 

DeChambeau's future is unclear

Bryson DeChambeau was among the first wave of players to be recruited by the rival league in 2022. 

He joined the league alongside major champions Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed and Cameron Smith. 

His contract expires at the end of the season and he is yet to put pen to paper on a new deal. 

DeChambeau hinted before the Ryder Cup that negotiations were not exactly going smoothly. 

"Things have got to change," he said. "Things have got to improve."

It was unclear what DeChambeau was referencing. Some reports claimed he was seeking at least $500m to sign a new deal. 

The aforementioned O'Neil also addressed DeChambeau's situation in Mexico. 

DeChambeau's furious outburst

On Thursday, a spectator filmed DeChambeau expressing his anger at the playing conditions in Mexico. 

After a wayward shot, DeChambeau could be heard saying: "You got destroyed grass ... oh, this rough?"

With a sarcastic thumbs-up, he added: "Definitely good to see". 

DeChambeau moaned to a tournament official, asking for a drop.

His appeal was rejected and he ultimately hit his approach within six feet of the pin. He managed to convert the putt.