Before Brooks Koepka’s departure, the \”Scientist\” was already the face of the LIV Golf League. Now, he holds all the cards in his hands. An analysis.
First news first: Brooks Koepka arrived at the driving range at Torrey Pines and was met with neither hostility nor cheer from former or current peers. At most, there was a friendly indifference towards the LIV returnee. Even Wyndham Clark, a declared skeptic of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, has remained behaviorally unobtrusive so far.
Phone Call with Tiger
\”I’m excited. There are definitely players who are happy, and definitely players who will be angry. Some will not be happy about how everything went,\” the 35-year-old had stated some time ago. Yesterday at the Farmers Insurance Open press conference, he politely thanked for the opportunity and revealed that his first phone call upon receiving the release from LIV was to Tiger Woods, the powerful man and orchestrator behind the scenes at Ponte Vedra Beach.
\”I didn’t know exactly what to do or how to approach things [with the PGA Tour], and Tiger was the first person who came to mind because I’ve always had a good relationship with him.\” Koepka clearly knows whose approval truly matters…
LIV Dynamics Drastically Changed
But wait, isn’t this article supposed to be about Bryson DeChambeau? Yes. But it can’t start without the Koepka case as introduction. The departure of the giant from Florida has drastically altered the dynamics of the LIV Golf League. The Saudi-backed league suddenly lost 33.3 percent of its active assets.
Koepka was one to make a statement and boast about in the wider public, as a five-time major winner with the dazzling Jena Sims by his side. He is one of two LIV players who won a major while on the rival circuit. The other is DeChambeau, US Open champion of 2020 and 2024 (!) and an exceptional figure in many respects.
Only DeChambeau and Rahm as Valuable Assets
The third particularly valuable asset is probably Jon Rahm, not only seen through a European lens. Beyond that, LIV’s roster dwindles into insignificance. A bit of Sergio Garcia, maybe some Joaquin Niemann.
Patrick Reed stands out because of his reputation as a controversial figure. Also, the 2018 Masters champion just won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Dustin Johnson missing the cut in the same tournament barely stirred interest. Tyrrell Hatton is clearly more interesting than Cameron Smith. And who was Phil Mickelson again?
Rory McIlroy is right when he says: \”They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle, and I don’t think they will.\”
Only Majors and YouTube?
This brings us back to Bryson DeChambeau. LIV lives and breathes through the 32-year-old Texas transplant. The reverse, however, may not necessarily be true. BDC recently said he could imagine playing only the majors for