LIV Golf pro praises Bryson DeChambeau's efforts to save breakaway tour on eve of U.S. Open

English golfer Laurie Canter has praised Bryson DeChambeau's efforts to save LIV Golf.

It was confirmed in late April that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will no longer fund the breakaway tour after the conclusion of the 2026 season. 

What that meant for DeChambeau's future wasn't immediately clear, given the two-time U.S. Open champion is out of contract soon. 

DeChambeau even declared he would be willing to concentrate on growing his YouTube channel and participating in the "tournaments that actually want me" if LIV doesn't survive. 

But Canter told the Sky Sports Golf podcast on the eve of the U.S. Open that DeChambeau is fully committed to LIV.

"He genuinely cares," Canter told the pod. "He genuinely has a vision for team golf and the future of the game. He does. 

"He's been, I'd say from the player side, been the driving force in it. He's wanted to meet other players, present visions. 

"I know he's been a huge part of the planning process. I think that's absolutely right. He's fully on board with it."

LIV Golf is understood to be exploring structural changes beyond 2026 as it seeks additional investment and long-term stability. 

Reports have suggested the league could reduce its schedule from 14 events to around 10, with adjustments also under consideration for prize money and format.

Purses have ranged between $25-30m. Former Open champion Cameron Smith told reporters last month they had become "far-fetched" and needed to be reduced. 

Further proposals reportedly blending team-based events with individual competitions staged across multiple regions.

Bob Harig of The Daily Drive recently reported LIV's shotgun start could also be chopped in an effort to save costs. 

Canter added of DeChambeau "I think he's seen the impact of, I don't want to cast this aspersion that widely, but because I think as a general rule, American golfers haven't travelled that well. 

"He actually consistently has. He came up late to Ireland, the DP World Tour in the early days [of his career] and now he's gone with LIV and gone around the world. 

"I think actually through the YouTube stuff, he can see how global and how wide he can grow the game with this platform. 

"He's probably in quite a unique position to do that because he's willing to give a lot more of himself than frankly other people are.

"I think he's seen the impact of, I don't want to cast this aspersion that widely, but because I think as a general rule, American golfers haven't travelled that well. 

"He's seen how global and how wide he can grow the game with this platform."

"He's a pretty dangerous player"

DeChambeau is one of 13 LIV Golf players in the 2026 U.S. Open field. 

He arrives at Shinnecock Hills having missed cuts at the Masters and PGA Championship. 

Once again, DeChambeau has elected to keep a low-profile this week and didn't take part in any pre-tournament news conferences. 

He could be in line for a shock equipment tweak as he was spotted on the range with a prototype TaylorMade driver. 

DeChambeau overpowered Winged Foot in 2020 to win his first U.S. Open title and added a second two years ago at Pinehurst. 

Canter isn't ruling out DeChambeau adding a third gold medal to his haul. 

The 36-year-old, who is also in the 156-man field, told Sky Sports that he saw DeChambeau using all sorts of wacky gadgets on the range.

"What Bryson does is authentic to him and it doesn't make sense to a lot of other people," he added. 

"Ultimately, in his own mind, he obviously has to tick these boxes and perhaps turn over stones that other people wouldn't even consider stones. 

"He enjoys that and I think it's part of his process. Obviously, when it aligns for him, he's as good as anyone. 

"I'd say you could perhaps make cases with this not being the best venue for him. 

"When he's aligned and ready and it's working, he's good under pressure. He holds up under pressure and he is able to win and compete at the biggest stages. 

"I think he's a really dangerous person to write off. What version of him will turn up?

"If he gets his ducks in a row, then he's a pretty dangerous player."

DeChambeau is playing the first two rounds of the U.S. Open alongside 2022 champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Norway's Viktor Hovland. 

Keep checking GolfMagic for regular updates.