Bryson DeChambeau told by former PGA Tour golfer to stick with LIV

Former PGA Tour member turned golf commentator Smylie Kaufman says Bryson DeChambeau would be wise to stick with LIV Golf. 

DeChambeau was recruited by the PIF-backed league in 2022 for a reported $100m, joining major champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Patrick Reed in quitting the established circuit. 

But his contract expires at the end of this season and, given his recent comments, there is speculation the two-time U.S. Open champion could follow Koepka out the door. 

Kaufman told his podcast that he believes Koepka was ultimately bothered by the "lack of competition" whereas that doesn't bother DeChambeau as much. 

"He is the show over at LIV Golf," said Kaufman. It is all about Bryson over there. 

"I think most of that attention, it will be on him early, but if he's not playing good golf, it kind of goes away a little bit on the PGA Tour. On LIV, every day, he is the main attraction.

"In my head when I’m debating these two coming back, I think Brooks is bothered by the lack of competition that he feels and that sense of competing against the best. Bryson, I don't think he’s bothered by it quite as much."

He added: "One thing too that I think about with Bryson and LIV Golf, I think security, having that security to where your job is safe, I think for a guy like Bryson means a lot because he's able to focus on his YouTube, he can just go play his LIV schedule and not worry about losing your job.

"I think as soon as he gets back to the PGA Tour, and let's say the PGA Tour changes their playing criteria, so let's say there's not the two-year exemption for winning on the PGA Tour, and they make it much more of if you're top 80, you're keeping your card, but if you're not, you're going down a league, keep it to where a consumer understands every year a player can drop out of the top 80. Make it really, really competitive in that way."

DeChambeau was a polarising figure during his PGA Tour days. The most common complaint was that he played far too slowly. 

He previously revealed it was his pace of play that sparked his brief feud with the aforementioned Koepka. 

There were occasions that DeChambeau appeared to get agitated when things didn't go his way and even argued with rules officials.

The golfer has since explained that was down to his youth and not knowing who he truly was. 

"Let's say he's having a bad year, that's where I think the Bryson of old might come out again," Kaufman added. 

"And LIV Golf, I know they have this relegation and the drop zone, but remember that he's a captain and his value to the league and potentially what he's going to sign on for – that could be a $100+ million deal – he'd be kind of silly not to do it, right? It makes more sense for him."

What did Bryson DeChambeau say?

Bryson DeChambeau told reporters before the Ryder Cup he was hopeful of agreeing his stay with LIV Golf beyond 2026. 

But during a recent interview with FlushingIt, the golfer was extremely non-committal over what his future might look like. 

DeChambeau appeared to indicate that he would be happy to play in the majors and concentrate on YouTube if he were to leave LIV and not be permitted to return to the PGA Tour. 

Some believe he is just flexing his muscles and has the upper hand in the negotiations. 

"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.

"You never know. Life throws curveballs and, obviously, we saw [Koepka leaving LIV] and that was quite a shock to a lot of people and something that, you know, it is what it is."

DeChambeau also said LIV Golf needed to make improvements, although it was unclear what specifically he was referring to.