Bryson DeChambeau future in golf, Digi Mart USA News: Rory McIlroy said Tuesday that Bryson DeChambeau does not appear to have many options outside of accepting what is reportedly a chance to play on the DP World Tour. Speaking ahead of Thursday’s start of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, McIlroy said DeChambeau brings attention to tournaments, both good and bad.
McIlroy added, “I’m certainly not in his shoes, nor would I ever want to be, but it doesn’t seem like he’s got many options if he wants to play competitive golf.” DeChambeau left the PGA Tour in 2022 to join LIV Golf, which confirmed last week that it is ending operations amid ongoing bankruptcy court proceedings.
In a statement shared last week, DeChambeau wrote, “Arnold Palmer said no player is bigger than the game, and I want to acknowledge that, along the way, I’ve said some things that didn’t help.” He added that whatever comes next, he would approach it “with humility and respect for the people who carried this game long before.”
The Telegraph’s James Corrigan reported last week that DeChambeau had been offered “full playing privileges on the European circuit next year.” Corrigan reported that the 23-year-old is the only Tour non-member on LIV with this exemption, and that if he enlists for 2027 he could earn back his PGA Tour card for 2028 through the Race to Dubai money list.
PGA Tour eligibility criteria as of September call for a one-year suspension for players who participated in LIV Golf, dating back to their last tournament. That would keep players including DeChambeau away from the PGA Tour until at least August 2027.
The PGA Tour previously opened a direct path for LIV Golf players through its Returning Member Program, under which Brooks Koepka agreed to significant financial penalties to rejoin immediately. Koepka forfeited an estimated $50 to $85 million in career earnings by agreeing to the program, according to PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp.
Rolapp said in August that the PGA Tour is not planning to reinstate a similar program. Jon Rahm said last week he would accept similar conditions to regain his own path back to the PGA Tour, but said he would “seriously doubt I get offered the same deal that Brooks did,” according to the Golf Channel.
“It’s a pretty good safety net that I have that I can play the DP World Tour next year, and if it comes to that, I’m really excited to play for a full year,” Rahm said.
DeChambeau said in 2022 he was paid more than $125 million to join LIV Golf. He earned an estimated $68.7 million in winnings on the tour, according to Spotrac.
Bankruptcy filings described by USA Today’s Mark Giannotto and Kristie Ackert show LIV Golf acknowledging $5.77 million still owed to DeChambeau.
DeChambeau confirmed in his statement that he would play in the DP World Tour’s Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa this December and would then “go about whatever is next the right way.” The Athletic’s Gabby Herzig recently reported that the PGA Tour is not expected to make a public decision about a pathway back for LIV Golf players until at least January, when LIV’s bankruptcy proceedings are set to conclude.
Whether the PGA Tour ultimately reinstates another return pathway could determine whether DeChambeau plays a full upcoming season on the DP World Tour.
