PGA Tour “does not need” Bryson DeChambeau as LIV Golf rumours intensify

Former PGA champion and Sky Sports Golf analyst Rich Beem insists the PGA Tour “does not need” Bryson DeChambeau amid growing uncertainty surrounding the future of LIV Golf.

DeChambeau, 32, heads into this week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink as one of the favourites for the second major of the season, still searching for his first Wanamaker Trophy after US Open victories in 2020 and 2024. 

But speculation over DeChambeau’s long-term future continues to intensify following reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will stop funding LIV Golf after the 2026 season. 

DeChambeau’s current LIV Golf contract is also set to expire at the end of this season, just to add to all the drama. 

The Crushers GC captain recently stated he wants to remain with LIV for as long as the league exists, but rumours of a potential PGA Tour return have refused to disappear.

Beem, however, believes the PGA Tour would be just fine without the two-time US Open champion.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, Beem, 55, gave a blunt response when asked whether the PGA Tour needs DeChambeau back.

“No, they don’t,“ Beem insisted.

“He is not bigger than the game. He said that I can’t believe they are doing that [the sanctions] and then four sentences later he said ‘the egos need to be dropped’. Who are you? Who is this guy?

“You can’t make this up. [He said] Everybody needs to come in with a level playing field with an opportunistic mindset to grow the game of golf. As entertaining as he is on the golf course, what comes out of his mouth can be highly entertaining too. You are a self proclaimed scientist but you are not a politician!”

Beem, who won the PGA Championship in 2002, then doubled down on his stance by arguing that no individual player can ever outweigh the sport itself.

“Here is the reason why I say the PGA does not need him. One is that nobody is bigger than the game. If Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer walked away in their prime, the game would have gone on without them.”

The three-time PGA Tour winner also suggested DeChambeau may ultimately be better suited to building his brand through YouTube content rather than a full-time return to the PGA Tour.

“I think what he is doing with YouTube might be right up his alley,” Beem said.

“I mean that seems to be where he is most comfortable because he gets to control the narrative and what is put out there. He gets to control what he says and how he says it because they can go back and edit it. Where it gets into a live audience that is not the case.”

Beem also pointed to what he described as contrasting versions of DeChambeau’s personality, referencing comments made during last year’s Masters.

“We have seen good and bad Bryson. I think even great Bryson when he is at his best,” Beem added.

“At The Masters when he was chasing Rory down last year on Saturday he came in and said if I can get my irons in play I am doing everything else great and then on Sunday he was like Rory wouldn’t talk to me.

“I would not have expected anybody to talk to me. I don’t remember walking down the fairways trying to talk to Justin Leonard or his caddie. I am focusing on what I’m doing.

“So we get these two different, polar opposite, individuals whenever we talk about them. And the PGA Tour does not need him.“

Despite his criticism, Beem still believes DeChambeau could successfully forge a career centred around majors, international appearances and content creation.

“100%,“ Beem exclaimed when asked whether DeChambeau could focus mainly on majors and YouTube.

“Can he take European Tour membership? I could see him wanting to go over and do Dubai and I think India again. Because when he talks about growing the game, he talks about growing the game into different languages and putting different languages on his YouTube channel.”

Beem did, however, question whether DeChambeau’s online popularity would remain as strong without regular appearances on leaderboards.

“Just a YouTube video alone without any success in the majors and not seeing him on TV, that could dry up a little bit,” he said.

“But I think the Tour will relent and let him back in but he will have to pay a stiff penalty and he is going to go kicking and screaming and crying about it but I think that’s the only way.“

In the short term, DeChambeau remains one of the biggest attractions in world golf and a genuine contender for a third major title at Aronimink this week. 

But with LIV Golf’s future under increasing scrutiny and his contract situation unresolved, questions over what comes next are only going to grow louder.

Whether that leads to a PGA Tour return, a more flexible global schedule, or an even greater focus on YouTube content, Beem’s message is crystal clear — while DeChambeau may move the needle, the PGA Tour will continue with or without him.