Bryson DeChambeau “shocked” after seeing Brooks Koepka walk out of LIV Golf League

Bryson DeChambeau has revealed he was aware there had been quiet rumblings surrounding Brooks Koepka’s future on LIV Golf — but admits he was still taken aback when the news of his exit became official just days before Christmas.

On 23 December, LIV Golf confirmed that Koepka, a five-time major champion and former World No.1, had decided to terminate his contract with the Saudi-backed league with one year still remaining on his deal.

While speculation had circulated for some time behind the scenes, the timing of the announcement — and the finality of it — caught many within LIV Golf by surprise, including one of the league’s most influential figures.

• DeChambeau breaks silence on LIV Golf contract renewal

Speaking exclusively to Flushing It’s Tom Hobbs, DeChambeau, the captain of Crushers GC, admitted that while there had been background noise around Koepka’s situation, he did not expect the move to become official so suddenly.

“There was always rumblings, but ultimately, it was a shock when I saw it today. I was like, whoa, all right, well, didn't know it was going to happen today. I didn't have that on my bingo card for the 23rd of December.”

Koepka’s representatives have cited family as the primary reason behind his decision to step away from LIV Golf, which is set to switch from a 54-hole format to 72 holes in 2026.

Earlier this year, Koepka’s wife Jena Sims confirmed the couple had suffered a miscarriage, and it has been a deeply challenging period for the 35-year-old both on and off the course throughout 2025. Koepka and Sims now share a young son, Crew, and Koepka has opted to prioritise family life moving forward.

While Koepka remains suspended from the PGA Tour due to his LIV Golf membership, he is expected to retain eligibility for all four major championships in 2026 and could also feature in a limited number of DP World Tour events. Under current regulations, the earliest he could return to the PGA Tour would be August 2026, although no official position has yet been confirmed by the Tour.

Koepka is the first marquee name to exit LIV Golf mid-contract, and how the PGA Tour ultimately handles any potential return will be closely watched. Some believe Koepka’s star power should warrant flexibility, while others argue that no player should be treated as bigger than the Tour itself.

From LIV Golf’s perspective, Koepka’s departure is an undeniable blow. He leaves having signed a deal reportedly worth around $125 million in the summer of 2022 and exits as captain of Smash GC. Talor Gooch will now assume captaincy duties, while Graeme McDowell and Jason Kokrak also remain on board. Their fourth member has yet to be confirmed ahead of the 2026 season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Discussions are believed to be ongoing with several potential replacements.

However, the bigger concern for LIV Golf would be if DeChambeau were to follow Koepka’s lead.

The 32-year-old American, one of the league’s most important signings and the captain of Crushers GC, signed a similarly lucrative deal in 2022 and remains contracted through the end of 2026. He has already confirmed discussions are underway regarding an early extension.

Speaking exclusively to Tom Hobbs from Flushing It, DeChambeau said: “I mean, look, it's confidential. I’m not going to share too much, but the conversations are in process. We have to get to a place where both parties have a good understanding of one another. It is getting to a place that makes sense for both sides.

“And, I think that can happen, but you never know. Life throws curve balls and, obviously, we saw what happened today (Brooks Koepka leaving LIV Golf) and that was quite a shock to a lot of people and something that, you know, it is what it is.

“People make decisions for whatever their needs and wants are and, ultimately, you have to respect it and move on and it feels like it was a mutual understanding and that's great.

“I think that as a league now we have more opportunity to make some movements and I think that team has an opportunity to do some things differently than the past few seasons. So, we'll see where it all goes and where it all leads. Ultimately, it's quite interesting.”

Throughout the season, LIV Golf officials had consistently played down suggestions Koepka was unhappy, publicly insisting he remained committed to the league and Smash GC. In hindsight, it appears those assurances may not have reflected the full picture.

With Koepka now officially gone, attention has naturally turned to whether he should be allowed a pathway back onto the PGA Tour — and whether he should receive any special consideration.

Asked directly whether Koepka should be granted a return, DeChambeau was clear about the potential implications. 

“I don't know, man. I don't know what they should allow or not… If they're going to be doing it by the book, they should do it by the book and not give any special exemption. But if there's a special exemption, it definitely opens the doors for others to do the same, which, you know, it's a slippery slope for sure.”

As things stand, no official pathway back to the PGA Tour has been announced for Koepka. Whatever decision is ultimately made, it will be one watched closely by players across both tours — particularly those currently contracted to LIV Golf — as it could shape the future landscape of elite professional golf.