Before Brooks Koepka’s departure, the ‘Scientist’ was the face of the league. Now he holds all the cards. An analysis.
Starting with the latest news: Brooks Koepka was met with neither hostility nor warmth on his first appearance at the Torrey Pines driving range. The LIV returnee encountered only friendly indifference from former and current colleagues, including Wyndham Clark, a known skeptic of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, who has so far remained quiet.
Call with Tiger Woods
\”I’m excited. There are definitely players who are happy and some who will be angry. Some won’t be happy with how things unfolded,\” the 35-year-old said earlier. At the Farmers Insurance Open press conference yesterday, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity and revealed that his first call after being cleared to leave LIV was to Tiger Woods, the influential figure behind the scenes at Ponte Vedra Beach.
\”I wasn’t sure how to handle things with the PGA Tour, and Tiger was the first person I thought of since I’ve always had a good relationship with him.\” Koepka clearly knows whose approval matters most.
LIV’s Dynamics Drastically Changed
But wait, isn’t this article supposed to be about Bryson DeChambeau? Yes, but the Koepka situation serves as necessary context. The departure of the Florida giant has profoundly changed the dynamics of the LIV Golf League, removing 33.3% of its star power overnight.
Koepka was a marquee player everyone recognized: a five-time major champion, accompanied by the glamorous Jena Sims, and one of only two LIV players to win a major during their time in the rival circuit. The other is DeChambeau, US Open champion in 2020 and 2024, and a unique talent in many ways.
Only DeChambeau and Rahm Remain Key Assets
The third valuable asset in LIV is Jon Rahm, important beyond a European perspective. After them, LIV’s player roster falls into insignificance. A bit of Sergio Garcia, some Joaquin Niemann perhaps.
Patrick Reed stands out mainly due to his controversial reputation, despite winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in 2023. Dustin Johnson missing the cut at the same event goes unnoticed. Tyrrell Hatton is more interesting than Cameron Smith. And where exactly is Phil Mickelson again?
Rory McIlroy summed it up perfectly: \”They haven’t signed anyone who makes a difference, and I don’t think they will.\”
Only Majors and YouTube?
Now focusing fully on Bryson DeChambeau: LIV lives and breathes through the 32-year-old Texan, which is not necessarily reciprocated. Recently, DeChambeau said he could see playing only the majors for the rest of his career while focusing on his YouTube channel \”Break 50,\” which boasts nearly three million followers and earns him an estimated $800,000 annually, a figure that continues to rise.