Numerous players are approaching the end of their contracts with LIV Golf.
Dustin Johnson‘s current LIV Golf deal will expire at the end of this season, whilst Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka will be out of contract in 2026.
Recent claims have suggested that a merger between LIV and the PGA Tour will ‘never get done’.
That’s bad news for golf fans. We all deserve to see the best golfers in the world compete against each other outside of the four majors.
DeChambeau is unquestionably one of the most marketable players in professional golf right now, if not the most marketable.
It would be so good to see the 31-year-old two-time US Open champion back competing with Scottie Scheffler and co on a regular basis.
DeChambeau needs to produce the goods under pressure more consistently, if he is to start winning big events on a regular basis.
However, he is still one of the best players in the world right now, regardless of his sometimes inconsistent iron play.
Scheffler’s fine form means that he’s inadvertently putting pressure on the PGA Tour to partner up with LIV Golf.
So could any of the LIV guys decide to part ways with the Saudi-backed golf league when their contracts come to an end?
Jerry Foltz shares if he’s concerned about Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm leaving LIV
Jerry Foltz is one of the inside men over on LIV Golf.
The golf commentator sat down with Chris McKee to discuss all things LIV.
Foltz was asked about whether he is concerned that any of the top LIV stars like DeChambeau, Johnson and Koepka could leave the tour with their contracts coming to an end.
He said, “I am not concerned about that at all because I have not heard any rumblings directly from any of the players about them being unhappy.
“Obviously when a new start up comes into business there is an acquisition phase for talent and that’s the phase we went through in 2022 and 2023.
“I think retaining talent is not going to be an issue.“
Foltz was then asked if LIV have any exciting new plans for 2026.
He responded, “Yes and yes. But I am sworn to secrecy. We have a lot of exciting stuff in the works and an exciting schedule shaping up as well.“
What Brandel Chamblee said about a PGA Tour / LIV Golf merger
Chamblee is a renowned outspoken critic of LIV.
He has made it very clear that he dislikes everything that the Saudi-backed tour stands for.
And Chamblee made it very clear indeed that a merger between the PGA Tour and LIV will never happen.
He said, “The beginning of last year, I was on the range at The American Express. I’m not going to name his name, but I saw someone who’s one of the gatekeepers of golf. A billionaire businessman. I said what’s going to happen, and he said, ‘The deal will never get done’.
“There is zero evidence that there is ever going to be a following for team play in golf. They’re not going to get Scottie Scheffler, they’re not going to get Rory McIlroy, they’re not going to get Jordan Spieth. I throw Jordan Spieth in there because he moves the needle. People think Jon Rahm moves the needle, I hate to break this to you, he doesn’t. Brooks Koepka, moves the needle? He doesn’t. People think Bryson DeChambeau moves the needle, he doesn’t. Very few people in golf move the needle. Tiger moves the needle, Rory moves the needle, Phil moved the needle, but not any more.”
Judging by Chamblee’s comments, we will not see a link-up between the two tours anytime soon.
And that’s a crying shame for golf fans.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
