Before Brooks Koepka left LIV Golf, ‘the Scientist’ was already the face of the league. Now, Bryson DeChambeau holds all the trump cards in this new phase. A closer look.
First the latest news: Brooks Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines was met with neither hostility nor warm welcome; rather, a friendly indifference prevailed among former and new colleagues. Notably, Wyndham Clark, a known skeptic of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, remained notably reserved.
Call with Tiger Woods
\”I’m excited. There are definitely players who are happy and definitely those who will be angry. Some won’t be pleased with how things went,\” the 35-year-old acknowledged some time ago. At the Farmers Insurance Open press conference, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity and revealed that his first call upon receiving clearance to leave LIV was to Tiger Woods, the influential figure behind the scenes in Ponte Vedra Beach.
\”I wasn’t quite sure how to handle things with the PGA Tour, and Tiger came to mind first since I’ve always had a good relationship with him.\” Koepka knows exactly whose approval truly matters.
\”I’m looking forward to this new chapter in my career and am very happy to be here. I’m grateful to Brian Rolapp, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and everyone who made this opportunity possible.\”
Brooks Koepka
LIV Golf’s Dynamics Dramatically Shifted
But this article is about Bryson DeChambeau. However, without introducing the Koepka situation, it wouldn’t be complete. Koepka’s departure has significantly altered the structure of LIV Golf, with the Saudi-backed league suddenly losing a third of its star assets.
Koepka was one of the prominent figures LIV could boast about publicly: a five-time major champion, accompanied by the glamorous Jena Sims, and one of only two LIV players who won a major during their time on the rival circuit. The other is DeChambeau, a 2020 and 2024 US Open champion, and indeed an exceptional presence.
Only DeChambeau and Rahm as Major Assets
The third key asset, notably valuable especially through a European perspective, is Jon Rahm. Beyond these players, LIV’s roster fades into insignificance: a bit of Sergio Garcia, some Joaquin Niemann maybe.
Patrick Reed stands out mainly because of controversies surrounding him; the 2018 Masters champion recently won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, whereas Dustin Johnson missing the cut there drew little attention. Tyrrell Hatton is more interesting than Cameron Smith, and where exactly is Phil Mickelson nowadays?
Rory McIlroy rightly observes: \”They haven’t signed anyone who really moves the needle, and I don’t think they will.\”
Majors and YouTube: DeChambeau’s Focus
Back to Bryson DeChambeau: LIV depends