Bryson DeChambeau is negotiating a DP World Tour comeback while LIV Golf reels from star departures and a cash crunch. The league's future hangs by a thread.
Saudi money once fueled LIV Golf's rise, but that pipeline has run dry. Bryson DeChambeau now stands as the last big name still linked to the league, even as others bolt and the financial ground crumbles beneath him.
In September 2026, LIV Golf filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States after the Saudi Public Investment Fund halted its financial support, forcing the league to cancel events, reduce staff, and shorten its season.
Player contracts and legal uncertainty
DeChambeau's contract with LIV still stands, but his lawyers have joined a wave of legal maneuvering as players try to untangle their deals. Jon Rahm's abrupt exit sent shockwaves through the locker room. He called the proposed 'LIV 2.0' relaunch "unacceptable" and walked, even though the league reportedly owes him over $100 million. According to Sky Sports reporting, Rahm's attorney John Beck confirmed Rahm's independent review and flat rejection of the new terms. Rahm will not play in LIV 2.0, period.
Brooks Koepka has put distance between himself and the league. Sergio Garcia faces a deadline to decide on a DP World Tour return. Garcia summed up the mood: "I don't really know how things will play out with the DP World Tour regarding LIV 2.0. We'll have to wait and see. That doesn't mean I won't go or that I'll definitely stay with LIV. I do what I believe is best for myself, my family and my team." A New Jersey bankruptcy court let Garcia walk away from his LIV contract on October 6, 2026, clearing a path for his DP World Tour comeback.
LIV Golf's financial peril and the PGA Tour's resurgence
Saudi funding has vanished. A $300 million rescue from BC Partners Credit remains only a possibility. The New York Times reports the Public Investment Fund poured about $5 billion into LIV Golf over four years, then pulled the plug after 2026. DeChambeau's expiring contract is now a last-ditch priority for league bosses. He'll play Sun City in a Gary Player tribute event, but his long-term loyalty is up in the air.
In bankruptcy filings, unsecured claims by Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau were listed at $7.4 million and $5.7 million respectively, though Rahm was reportedly still owed over $100 million on his long-term contract.
Equipment makers and tour organizers now face a landscape shaped by contract disputes and funding gaps. The rush out of LIV and the scramble for DP World Tour cards show that, for players, stability and credibility still trump everything else. DeChambeau's next step will set the tone for what's left of LIV Golf.
