Before Brooks Koepka’s departure, the ‘Scientist’ was already the face of the LIV Golf league. Now, Bryson DeChambeau holds all the cards. An in-depth look.
The latest news first: Brooks Koepka was met with neither hostility nor warmth by former and current colleagues during his first appearance at the driving range at Torrey Pines. At most, a friendly indifference greeted the LIV returnee, and even Wyndham Clark, a declared skeptic of the PGA Tour’s Returning Member Program, remained low-key.
Call with Tiger Woods
\”I’m excited. There are definitely players who are happy and definitely players who will be angry. Some won’t be happy with how things have turned out,\” the 35-year-old said some time ago. At the Farmers Insurance Open press conference, he politely thanked for the opportunity and revealed that his first call, once approved to leave LIV, was to Tiger Woods, the key figure behind the scenes at Ponte Vedra Beach. \”I wasn’t exactly sure what to do or how to approach things with the PGA Tour, and Tiger came to mind first, as I’ve always had a good relationship with him.\” Koepka clearly knows whose blessing counts.
\”I look forward to this new chapter in my career and am very happy to be here. Brian Rolapp, Jay Monahan, Tiger Woods, and everyone who made this possible have my deepest thanks.\”
Brooks Koepka
LIV Golf Landscape Dramatically Changed
This article is ultimately about Bryson DeChambeau, but Koepka’s case is an essential introduction. His exit has drastically altered LIV Golf’s dynamics, cutting their active player assets by 33.3%. Koepka was one the league could boast about publicly—a five-time major winner, with the glamorous Jena Sims at his side, and one of two LIV players to secure a major during their time on the competing circuit. The other is DeChambeau himself, US Open champion in 2020 and 2024, a remarkable figure in many respects.
Only DeChambeau and Rahm as True Assets
The third valuable asset is Jon Rahm, not just from a European perspective. After that, LIV’s player roster fades into insignificance—some Sergio Garcia, maybe Joaquin Niemann. Patrick Reed draws attention mostly because of controversies surrounding him, despite recently winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic. Dustin Johnson missing the cut in the same event barely raised eyebrows. Tyrrell Hatton is more interesting than Cameron Smith, and Phil Mickelson’s relevance seems diminished. Rory McIlroy remarked: \”They haven’t signed anyone who truly moves the needle, and I don’t think they will.\”
Majors and YouTube?
Back to Bryson DeChambeau: LIV lives through this 32-year-old Texas transplant, but not necessarily vice versa. Recently, BDC said he could imagine playing only the majors for the rest of his career and focusing on his YouTube