Report: PGA Tour players building a case against Bryson DeChambeau return

Some PGA Tour members have reportedly "memorised everything negative" Bryson DeChambeau has said about the circuit since his switch to LIV Golf and expect the two-time U.S. Open champion to pay a huge penalty if he wants to return. 

DeChambeau's future in the men's game has become a hot topic in recent months as the 32-year-old's contract is set to expire at the end of the season.

Making matters worse, LIV Golf is seeking some $300m in fresh capital to support its operations beyond 2026, after Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund confirmed it will end its direct funding of the league at the end of the campaign. 

DeChambeau has been heavily involved in attempts to save LIV but also hasn't hidden the fact that he is at a crossroads in his career, previously explaining that he doesn't know whether to lean in on professional golf or content creation. 

Should he choose on the former, then there is a chance he may wish to resume his career on the PGA Tour at some stage. 

But, according to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, there remains significant “scar tissue” surrounding DeChambeau’s relationship with the PGA Tour, and he would likely face stricter terms than Brooks Koepka, who ended his LIV Golf stint in January.

As part of his return, Koepka agreed to a five-year ineligibility period for the PGA Tour’s player equity programme - worth a reported $50-80m - alongside a $5 million charitable donation requirement and the loss of eligibility for 2026 FedExCup bonus payments.

The 35-year-old was also told he had to earn his way into $20m signature events. 

"He is the most polarizing in terms of whether they are going to let him come back," Schlabach told The Pat McAfee Show of DeChambeau during the U.S. Open.

DeChambeau was among the high-profile players to miss the cut after 36 holes at Shinnecock Hills.

"There is definitely going to be a big penalty [if he wants to come back]. 

"I was told there are guys in the PGA Tour locker room that have memorised everything negative he has said about the PGA Tour over the last four or five years. 

"There is obviously a ton of scar tissue when it comes to Bryson.

"He is a huge name. He is massively popular among kids, but he may well be making YouTube videos for a while before he can come back on the PGA Tour."

Koepka is not the only former LIV Golf player to make his return to the PGA Tour. 

Although former Masters champion Patrick Reed wasn't eligible for the returning member programme Koepka took advantage of, he has had his membership reinstated. 

Reed will return to the PGA Tour later this year after serving a one-year ban. 

Hudson Swafford, Pat Perez and Kevin Na have also been told they are free to play in PGA Tour competition from 1 January 2027.

When is Bryson DeChambeau playing next?

DeChambeau has now failed to make the weekend at the Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open. 

It is the first time in his career that he has missed three major cuts in a row. 

His exit from the U.S. Open was particularly baffling, given he was well-placed at one-under after 16 holes. 

DeChambeau finished his first round on level par but then continued to tumble down the leaderboard. 

He finished on five-over to miss the cut by one. 

There is now less than a month until the Open. 

Because LIV cancelled its event in New Orleans, DeChambeau is now at a loose end with no competitive golf to play before he heads to Royal Birkdale.