Before Brooks Koepka’s departure, Bryson DeChambeau was already the face of LIV Golf. Now, he holds all the trump cards in his hand. A detailed look.
The big news: Brooks Koepka’s first appearance on the driving range at Torrey Pines after his return to the PGA Tour was met with little fanfare from former and current peers. The LIV returnee encountered only mild indifference, with even Wyndham Clark, a known skeptic of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, remaining low-key so far.
Phone Call with Tiger Woods
“I’m excited. There will definitely be players who are happy and definitely some who will be upset. Some won’t be satisfied with how everything went,” Koepka, 35, remarked some time ago. At the Farmers Insurance Open press conference, he expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and revealed that his first phone call after being cleared to leave LIV Golf was to Tiger Woods—the influential figure behind the scenes in Ponte Vedra Beach.
“I wasn’t sure exactly what to do or how to approach things with the PGA Tour, and Tiger was the first person who came to mind since I’ve always had a good relationship with him.” Koepka knows whose approval truly counts.
“I’m looking forward to this new chapter of my career and am thrilled to be here. I’m very thankful to Brian Rolapp, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and everyone who made this opportunity possible.”
Brooks Koepka
LIV Golf’s Dynamics Shift Dramatically
This article focuses on Bryson DeChambeau, but the context begins with Koepka’s departure, which significantly altered LIV Golf’s balance. The Saudi-backed league suddenly lost a third of its key players.
Koepka was a major asset to LIV Golf’s public image—a five-time major champion, alongside the glamorous Jena Sims, and one of only two LIV players to win majors during the circuit’s existence. The other is DeChambeau, U.S. Open champion in 2020 and 2024, and an extraordinary figure in many respects.
DeChambeau and Rahm: LIV’s Valuable Assets
The third valuable asset is Jon Rahm, respected globally. Apart from a few names like Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann, LIV’s roster loses significance. Patrick Reed, marked by controversy, recently won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, but other notable players like Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson have less impact. Rory McIlroy rightly said, “They haven’t signed anyone who matters lately, and I don’t think they will.”
Majors and YouTube: DeChambeau’s Path
Bryson DeChambeau, the 32-year-old Texan, is the lifeblood of LIV Golf. Yet, he has indicated he could focus solely on majors for the remainder of his career, dedicating the rest of his time to his YouTube