Bryson DeChambeau has been set a clear ultimatum by the PGA Tour.
CEO Brian Rolapp has allowed Brooks Koepka to return to the PGA Tour, but not without punishment. He must make a $5 million charitable donation, will lose access to 2026 FedEx Cup bonus money, sponsor exemptions to the $20 million signature events, and any equity grants in the PGA Tour for five years.
This could cost Koepka up to $85 million, but he’s accepted the tour’s punishment and will return to the PGA Tour in 2026. And this deal isn’t exclusive to the five-time major winner.
The tour said that this offer is available to any LIV player who has won a major or The Players Championship since 2022. That’s a list of three people: Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau. But this offer expires on February 2, giving the players just weeks to decide their future.
Rolapp was deliberate with his wording, and it’s clear that DeChambeau should call his bluff after what the tour’s CEO said in his statement.
The reason why Bryson DeChambeau should call Brian Rolapp’s bluff
In his statement on Koepka’s return, Rolapp sent a message to Rahm, Smith, and DeChambeau.
He said, “Other eligible players interested in seeking PGA Tour reinstatement must do so by the time the returning member program closes on Monday, February 2. This is a one-time, defined window and does not set a precedent for future situations. Once the door closes, there is no promise that this path will be available again.”
In that final sentence, Rolapp showed his hand. He said there is no promise that “this path” will be available. But what about other paths? Can players negotiate better deals in the future?
And by saying there is simply “no promise” this won’t be offered, Rolapp is leaving the door open for the same deal to be given to players beyond the deadline. All the CEO has truly done is make clear that there is no guarantee it will be offered, but he hasn’t ruled it out.
Should Bryson DeChambeau leave LIV Golf in 2026?
That’s made DeChambeau’s decision simple. His contract with LIV Golf expires at the end of the 2026 season, and he holds all the leverage in the world. It was recently revealed by an insider that DeChambeau may leave LIV at the end of this season, and it’s clear a PGA Tour return would still be possible ahead of 2027.
There is little chance that Rolapp and the PGA Tour would turn down the opportunity to re-sign one of golf’s biggest stars. And why should DeChambeau get the same deal as Koepka? At this stage of their careers, DeChambeau’s star power is far greater than nearly anyone else in the sport.
That means he can realistically hope for a better deal than Koepka next season, so there’s little reason for him to jump ship now. It would be far better for him to wait another season, see how LIV Golf performs in 2026, and consider a return to the PGA Tour next year.
Dan Rapaport says how much Bryson DeChambeau should ask for from LIV Golf
The PGA Tour has given DeChambeau an unbelievable amount of leverage in his contract negotiations with LIV Golf, so if he does decide to extend his contract, the numbers could be staggering.
Dan Rapaport, reacting to the news of Koepka’s return, put a number on what he thinks the American could ask for.
He posted to X: “If I’m Bryson DeChambeau, I’m going into that LIV contract negotiation asking, with a straight face, for 500 million U.S. dollars. If he leaves, it’s over. Leverage on leverage on leverage.”
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It’s a massive number, but honestly, Rapaport could be underselling DeChambeau’s value to LIV. If the two-time major winner leaves, it’s over for the Saudi-backed league. There’s no two ways about that.
LIV reportedly offered Tiger Woods up to $800 million to join the tour back in 2022. And back then, the tour had far more leverage. Now it’s desperate, and the cheque for DeChambeau is pretty much blank.
DeChambeau’s new deal could realistically exceed the number that was offered to Woods. It’s nearly impossible to put a number on his value to the tour, so if he really wants to make LIV sweat in 2026, asking for $1 billion isn’t out of the realm of possibility.
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