Bryson's future? 'I know my worth'
When his LIV contract expires, DeChambeau sees value in re-upping; Opaque transparency
Bryson DeChambeau’s LIV Golf contract is up for renewal next year (Jason E. Miczek/USGA)
OAKMONT, Pa. — Bryson DeChambeau has more important things on his mind as the U.S. Open begins on Thursday. Specifically, defending his title … and winning a third major championship … and continuing his fine run of play in the majors, which has seen him contend in five of the last six.
But DeChambeau’s future is never far from the minds of those who follow one of the game’s more intriguing characters. His status with LIV Golf came up this week at Oakmont.
DeChambeau revealed that his contract, which began in 2022, expires at the end of next season and that he expected to be offered a new one.
That doesn’t necessarily end any speculation as to whether or not DeChambeau might come back to the PGA Tour. There would need to be a deal between the conflicting tours for that to occur anyway. But DeChambeau did not shy away from his desire to remain with LIV Golf, a subject he could have easily swatted away.
DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Open champion, reportedly signed a deal in excess of $100 million with LIV Golf when it launched in June of 2022. Will he get similar terms to stick around the Saudi-backed circuit?
“Next year is when it ends,” DeChambeau said this week at Oakmont, where he begins defense of his U.S. Open title on Thursday. “We’re looking to negotiate end of this year, and I’m very excited. They see the value in me. I see the value in what they can provide, and I believe we’ll come to some sort of resolution on that. Super excited for the future.”
DeChambeau’s popularity is one of LIV Golf’s biggest assets (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
The future remains somewhat unclear as the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Public Investment Fund — which backs LIV Golf — continue to negotiate the “framework agreement” first achieved two years ago but without resolution.
Talks have quieted recently after there was optimism earlier this year that a deal would get done. Meanwhile, LIV Golf has hired a new CEO, Scott O’Neil, to replace Greg Norman. Last week, O’Neil announced the hiring of LIV Golf’s first president of operations, Chris Heck, and has announced several tournament deals into the future.
“I think that LIV is not going anywhere,” DeChambeau said, comparing its potential to TGL — the high-tech simulation league launched by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
“H.E. [His Excellency, the governor of the PIF, Yasir Al Rumayyan] has been steadfast in his belief on team golf, nd whether everybody believes in it or not, I think it’s a viable option,” DeChambeau said. “I think it’s a viable commercial option. Our team has been EBITDA [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization] the past two years, so we’re starting to grow and move in the right direction, just like TGL.
“TGL has done a great job. They’ve got some teams that are making some money, and I believe there is a sustainable model out there. How it all works with the game of golf, who knows, but I know my worth. I know what LIV brings to the table. And I’m excited for the future of what golf is going to be.”
Whether LIV teams are actually making money is probably up for debate. But one way they do so is through the team competition and purses which includes the $50 million team championship. DeChambeau’s team won the 2023 title and with it $14 million. His Crushers team has won several weekly team events, which divvies up $5 million of the purse with $3 million going to the team winner.
Non-disclosure is more distracting than openness
By Alex Miceli
OAKMONT, Pa. — Why is transparency only essential when the PGA of America, PGA Tour or the USGA believes it is necessary while other times it’s is not worth the interruption? In this case, the lack of transparency and the presumption of interruption apply to the non-disclosure of driver testing results.
In the USGA media press conference on Wednesday at the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, CEO Mike Whan explained that disclosing driver testing results would be a greater interruption than necessary and then used the familiar idiom, “The juice wouldn’t be worth the squeeze.”
I must respectfully disagree. We should test the juice to see if it’s worth the effort.