“Through the grapevine” – Chamblee links DeChambeau with potential PGA Tour comeback

Questions surrounding Bryson DeChambeau’s long-term future in LIV Golf have intensified after outspoken analyst and former PGA Tour winner Brandel Chamblee suggested the American superstar may be quietly exploring a return to the PGA Tour.

Chamblee's comments arrive during a period of heightened instability for LIV Golf, with ongoing uncertainty over its financial backing and scheduling future, alongside speculation about player contracts and long-term commitments across the breakaway circuit.

Concerns around LIV Golf’s structure have re-emerged following confirmation that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will not continue financing the league beyond the current season. That development has prompted widespread questions about the sustainability of the league's long-term model.

Further uncertainty has been added by the competition’s scheduling gaps, with no LIV events scheduled for another six weeks until LIV Golf UK at JCB, which is set to take place the week after The Open next month.

Adding to the speculation, LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil this week declined to guarantee that all remaining events on the 2026 schedule will go ahead as planned, further fuelling debate about the tour’s direction.

Watch O'Neil's latest comments here: 

DeChambeau, who joined LIV Golf in 2022 as one of its most high-profile recruits, is also approaching a key contractual stage, with his multi-year deal running towards its conclusion this summer.

The timing has inevitably sharpened focus on what the two-time major champion may do next, particularly given his status as one of the most recognisable figures on the Saudi-backed league.

DeChambeau has hinted in recent interviews that he will either remain at LIV Golf or go alone on YouTube Golf. 

But in the eyes of Chamblee, a return to the PGA Tour is not out the question either. 

On the course, results have been mixed for DeChambeau so far in 2026. 

The Crushers GC captain has missed the cut in both The Masters and the PGA Championship, two of the season’s opening majors, and has at times appeared visibly frustrated with his form.

Despite that, he has still managed to secure two individual LIV Golf victories this season, winning back-to-back events in Singapore and South Africa in March, underlining that his game remains capable of producing elite-level performances.

DeChambeau will return to the major stage at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills next week, where he will attempt to claim a third title at the championship, having previously won at Winged Foot in 2020 and Pinehurst in 2024.

One-time PGA Tour winner Chamblee, known for his outspoken criticism of LIV Golf, has this week suggested DeChambeau’s current situation may be influencing both his performances and his future intentions.

Chamblee pointed to what he believes is growing instability around LIV Golf and how that may be affecting players mentally and competitively.

“The distraction of LIV being in flux, and Bryson – from what we can all sort of read between the lines is that – he’s trying to figure out a way to come back to the PGA Tour, at least that’s what we’re hearing through the grapevine,” Chamble said during Golf Channel's U.S. Open preview call on Wednesday. 

Chamblee’s remarks come at a time when LIV’s broader structure is under scrutiny, and when player futures are increasingly being discussed in the context of potential reunification talks between the PGA Tour and LIV leadership.

Chamblee also suggested that the uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf may already be having an impact on player performance levels, using DeChambeau as a key example of someone he believes is affected by the league’s instability.

“The distraction of LIV being in flux, and Bryson – from what we can all sort of read between the lines is that – he’s trying to figure out a way to come back to the PGA Tour, at least that’s what we’re hearing through the grapevine,” he reiterated in his analysis, highlighting what he perceives as behind-the-scenes uncertainty.

He added further context to his assessment of the wider LIV situation and its possible effect on players’ games:

“So, just being in flux, I think it’s hurt a lot of players’ games. Before people went to LIV, when they were considering going to LIV, we saw a number of games just inexplicably fall off.

“And maybe that is the large point of what’s going on with Bryson this year, is that he’s completely in a state of flux. He put so much into LIV, and now it’s up in flames. So there’s a lot of doubt as to where he’s going to be next year.”

The timing of Chamblee’s comments is particularly significant given the broader uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf’s commercial future and competitive calendar.

With PIF’s long-term financial commitment winding down and questions lingering over future event staging, players face increasing speculation about where their careers may lead beyond the current season.

DeChambeau, as one of LIV’s most marketable and successful players, naturally sits at the centre of that conversation. 

His profile, combined with his contract timeline and recent form fluctuations, has made him a focal point for discussion around potential movement back into the PGA Tour ecosystem.

For now, DeChambeau remains committed to LIV Golf obligations and will continue his season with a focus on major championship performances, starting with the U.S. Open next Thursday. 

Whether Chamblee’s claims reflect genuine behind-the-scenes discussions or simply wider industry speculation remains unclear, but they add another layer of intrigue to an already unsettled period for LIV Golf and its roster of star players.

What is certain is that the next few months will be crucial — not just for DeChambeau’s form on the course, but also for the direction of LIV Golf as a whole, and the future structure of professional men’s golf.