LIV Golf needs Bryson DeChambeau more than he needs them

The Cut Line is a brand new weekly feature brought to you by GolfMagic. Each week, our writers Andy Roberts and Ben Smith will debate the biggest talking points in professional golf, offering their views on the stories making headlines across the tours.

In our first episode, the focus is firmly on LIV Golf and the increasing uncertainty surrounding its future. With a growing list of players preparing to leave, questions remain over whether the league can survive into 2027 and whether Bryson DeChambeau holds the key to its next chapter.

Andy and Ben also discuss the DP World Tour's plans to offer selected LIV Golf players invitations for next season, raising questions about fairness to those who remained loyal to the circuit. 

Finally, they turn their attention to TGL, debating whether the indoor golf league has found its place in the sport and whether Tiger Woods' potential return will help attract more viewers.

Let's dive in... 

Is LIV Golf really going to return in 2027?

It's been a busy week for LIV Golf, with several big names confirming they want no part of its proposed new era. Do you still have confidence that it will be back in some form in 2027?

AR: It's difficult to have much confidence right now, especially given the star names already heading for the exit. However, I've been assured by someone with good connections at LIV that its proposed 2.0 era is still moving forward at full speed. The appointment of Mark King as a senior advisor this week also suggests there may be more confidence behind the scenes than the headlines indicate.

Ultimately, LIV's future will come down to Bryson DeChambeau. The league needs a superstar, and there are few bigger or more popular names in golf right now. If it can keep Bryson and a couple of other big hitters, I think LIV will return in 2027. But if he's the only major attraction, the prospect of watching him alongside the likes of Richard Bland and Cameron Tringale in the final group every week could quickly lose its appeal. I've been told a decision is expected in early November, so we'll have to wait and see.

BS: I said a few weeks ago, when the player exodus began, that I still believed LIV would return in some form in 2027. That was partly because I've been spectacularly wrong about almost everything that's happened in the golf wars.

I thought Jon Rahm's defection might finally force the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and PIF into an agreement. I also believed LIV securing Official World Golf Ranking accreditation in January could trigger another wave of signings and perhaps bring peace to professional golf. Swing and a miss.

Even after the PIF announced its retreat, I thought a bored billionaire or another investment group might step in, provided the money was spent more wisely and there was a proper business plan in place. LIV will be back.

What do you make of the LIV Golf player exodus?

As things stand, 13 players have announced their intentions to leave LIV Golf. As expected, Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin have followed Jon Rahm out the door, while Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell have also said farewell. What did you make of this?

AR: Few of the departures have surprised me. Rahm's exit felt inevitable for some time, and it was always likely that his close friend Hatton would follow.

Then there are players such as McKibbin, Adrian Meronk and David Puig, who have DP World Tour status and will be hoping a strong 2027 campaign can put them in contention for Luke Donald's Ryder Cup team.

Poulter and McDowell are more interesting cases. Both may see a route back to the DP World Tour and eventually the PGA Tour Champions, with the over-50s circuit potentially becoming an attractive option in the coming years.

The departure that surprises me most is Thomas Pieters. He previously suggested he wanted a relatively short career to spend more time with his family, so perhaps he's had a change of heart and wants to reignite his DP World Tour career. The problem is that he has no status on the circuit and would be reliant on invitations, which opens up a whole different can of worms.

I'm also surprised to see Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace leave, particularly given their best days may be behind them and the South African event has proved such a hit on LIV Golf.

BS: Hatton and McKibbin don't surprise me. The DP World Tour's decision to ban LIV players from membership in a Ryder Cup year has clearly forced their hand. Hatton probably doesn't want another messy legal dispute, particularly after his appeal was delayed to allow him to play at Bethpage alongside Rahm.

McKibbin has also received a major financial boost early in his career and can now focus on his ambitions without the same concerns about money.

I was genuinely surprised by McDowell and Poulter leaving. Neither is likely to be considered for a Ryder Cup leadership role in 2027 under the current rules. At 47, McDowell also finds himself in an awkward position: still too young for the senior circuit, but facing an increasingly difficult challenge against younger players. Their departures say plenty about LIV's current appeal.

Does Bryson DeChambeau hold the keys to LIV Golf's future?

According to ESPN, Bryson DeChambeau remains committed to LIV Golf. Do you think he really holds the keys to its future?

AR: Yes. 2.0 is dead without him.

BS: As long as LIV has Bryson, it has something. It's his baby.

Do you think he will stay?

AR: From what I've been told by multiple sources, DeChambeau wants to stay, and I think he will providing enough other players want to join him. There's no obvious route back to the PGA Tour for him right now either. LIV's limited schedule will allow him to focus on his YouTube channel, which he dearly loves, and it will give him time to get his game ready for the majors. He's been far too inconsistent in the majors lately and he will want to change that. I think LIV's proposed 10-event schedule will suit him down the ground. 

But at the end of the day, the league needs DeChambeau far more than he needs them.

BS: I think he wants to stay, but he's struggling to make up his mind. If his priorities are winning more majors and representing the United States in the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup or Olympics, returning to the PGA Tour would probably be his best option.

However, I don't think he's willing to give up his independence. He wants control over where he plays and the content he creates and I don't think the PGA Tour will afford him that opportunity. I also doubt he'd be keen on an returning on the same terms as Brooks Koepka. In fact, it's likely he may even be stung harder. The PGA Tour would likely welcome him back, but whether he'd accept the conditions is another matter.

Should the DP World Tour invite LIV Golf players back in 2027?

The DP World Tour has confirmed it is in talks with several LIV players without membership about offering a specific number of invitations for the 2027 season. That could mean they get into fields ahead of players who stayed loyal to the tour. Joost Luiten spoke to GolfMagic about this and didn't hold back. What's your take?

AR: Joost certainly didn't hold back in my interview with him last week, and I largely agree with his view that regularly inviting former LIV players back would be a weak decision.

It's difficult to judge the DP World Tour before we know how many invitations are being considered, but I struggle to see the justification for handing out places to players who have no status. Sponsor invitations are one thing; the Tour itself prioritising former LIV players is another.

I can understand why those who turned down LIV offers would be frustrated. If places are available, why not give them to players further down the DP World Tour Rankings or those competing on the HotelPlanner Tour? I have no issue with Rahm, Hatton and Sergio Garcia returning after fulfilling their obligations to retain their status. But inviting players such as Charles Howell III, who hasn't played a regular European Tour event in more than 25 years, is much harder to justify.

BS: I think some people have missed the point. We're not talking about Rahm or Hatton, who still have status, have paid their fines and dropped their appeals. We're talking about a select group of players who, outside the Asian Tour, don't have many other places to play.

I don't think anyone would object to an invitation for a major winner such as Cam Smith. But for the others? Back to Q-School, I'm afraid. I'm looking at you, Chucky Three Sticks.

Is TGL worth watching, and will Tiger Woods' return help?

TGL is back, and it looks like a certain Mr Woods will be in action. Have you enjoyed TGL, and will you tune in?

AR: I watch TGL regularly for work, because that is my job, but as a golf fan, I'm still not entirely convinced. It's clearly designed to attract new, younger audiences, and I like the faster format, but it doesn't always feel like a natural fit for the sport.

I'm also struggling to connect with the teams. Why not have an American team, a UK team, a European team and a Rest of the World side? The current format can feel a little forced, particularly when players seem expected to entertain as much as compete.

Tiger's return will undoubtedly attract eyeballs, especially when he first steps back into the TGL arena. But once that initial excitement wears off, I'm not sure his presence alone will be enough to win over the wider golfing audience. Most of us want to see Tiger back competing on a proper golf course, rather than hitting shots into a screen and putting on synthetic greens.

TGL still has work to do to win over traditional golf fans. Xander Schauffele's decision to step away ahead of Season 3 is another reminder that some players may prefer to focus solely on the Tour. Scottie Scheffler has stayed away entirely, while Nelly Korda is also sitting out WTGL. Personally, I think both have made the right call.

BS: The biggest barrier for golf fans in the UK is the time difference.

From what I've seen, TGL is decent enough, and the highlights make for good background viewing. I understand why it exists: it gives the PGA Tour a platform to showcase its stars and create short-form content. However, I still don't feel invested in any particular team.

I also agree with Nelly Korda that TGL is missing a trick by not including LPGA players. Bringing the women's game into the format could broaden its appeal, introduce a different dynamic and make the competition more interesting.

What do you think? Can LIV Golf survive into 2027, should the DP World Tour offer invitations to former LIV players, and does TGL have a future in the sport? Let us know your thoughts on our social channels and join the conversation with GolfMagic.