Bryson DeChambeau firmly states that he will prioritize his YouTube career over returning to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf fails to continue following the Public Investment Fund’s decision to end funding at season’s end.

PGA Tour Discussions Fall Short

DeChambeau recently held talks with PGA Tour officials over the past three weeks as the funding withdrawal became evident. The two-time major champion found the proposed return conditions unappealing. He described potential sanctions as “quite unfortunate in my opinion, considering what I could do for them.”

Earlier this year, DeChambeau expressed surprise at Brooks Koepka’s agreement to donate $5 million to charity and skip Signature Events for a swift PGA Tour comeback. “I didn’t know he’d be willing to give that much back,” DeChambeau remarked.

YouTube Growth and Selective Tournaments

At 32, DeChambeau shows little enthusiasm for rejoining the PGA Tour locker room if LIV folds. Instead, he plans to expand his social media presence, alongside competing in majors and select events. With 2.69 million YouTube subscribers, he aims to triple that figure or more. “I’d love to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe even more,” DeChambeau said. “I would love to do a bunch of dubbing in different languages, giving the world more reason to watch YouTube. And then I’d love to play tournaments that want me.”

As the 2023 U.S. Open winner, DeChambeau holds an exemption through 2033. He secures spots in the Masters, Open Championship, and PGA Championship until 2028. He maintains confidence in staying competitive in majors without a traditional tour commitment, dismissing skepticism. “That’s an incredibly viable option, I’ll tell you that,” he asserted.

LIV’s Uncertain Path and CEO’s Support

DeChambeau’s LIV contract ends in August. Prior to the funding shift—after a $5 billion investment over four years—he negotiated a potential $500 million extension. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil seeks to retain the star player amid funding searches for 2027. When asked about DeChambeau’s renewal, O’Neil replied, “Well, that’s an interesting question. I’m not sure. We’ll sort through and work through… He’s smart, he’s driven, he’s committed, and he’s a heck of a partner.”

DeChambeau appeared shocked by the Public Investment Fund’s exit. “I was completely shocked,” he said. “I didn’t expect it to happen. A couple months before that, it’s like, ‘we’re here until 2032 – we’ve got financing until 2032.’ I haven’t had any communication and obviously, they wanted to move on.”

Call for Merger and Golf’s Future

Despite the developments, DeChambeau urges humility from the PGA Tour and advocates for a merger. “The egos need to get dropped,” he stated. “Everybody needs to come in with a level-headed playing field, with an opportunistic mindset to grow the game of golf.”

He envisions team franchises generating profits, potentially selling for nearly $200 million each. “I think it requires a little bit of everybody kind of just lowering their guards and all coming together and going, ‘OK, what’s best for the game of golf?’” DeChambeau noted the PGA Tour’s challenges, including reduced field sizes, staff cuts, and business restructuring, despite media advantages.