Bryson DeChambeau voiced clear frustration with course conditions during the opening round of LIV Golf Mexico City, cutting an agitated figure throughout Thursday’s play at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
The 32-year-old carded a level-par 71, leaving him nine shots adrift of early leader Victor Perez, who leads tournament favourite Jon Rahm by three.
DeChambeau’s frustrations boiled over during a mid-round incident after a greenside bunker shot carried over the back of the green.
His ball came to rest in an area of rough that appeared, to the naked eye, to resemble ground under repair.
“You’ve got destroyed grass… this is rough?” DeChambeau was heard saying before calling for a rules official.
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Despite his protests, a disgruntled DeChambeau was denied free relief.
“Absolutely out of the question,” the official ruled.
DeChambeau labelled the situation “unbelievable” but showed composure to eventually get his ball up and down.
Still, he left the green visibly frustrated, underlining his dissatisfaction with the course setup, at least on that hole.
DeChambeau is competing this week after a hugely disappointing missed cut at The Masters last week.
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He made a shocking triple-bogey seven on his final hole at Augusta National to cost himself a tee time on the weekend.
Watch DeChambeau’s rules dispute here:
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The Crushers captain had encountered Club de Golf Chapultepec previously having finished runner-up to Joaquin Niemann last season.
DeChambeau’s on-course frustrations come during a turbulent week for LIV Golf, with growing uncertainty surrounding the league’s long-term future.
Scott O’Neil, CEO of LIV Golf, has now all-but confirmed in recent interviews that the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is unlikely to continue funding the league beyond the 2026 season — echoing multiple reports that have emerged this week.
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The Saudi PIF has reportedly invested around $5 billion into LIV Golf since its launch in 2022.
However, it now appears increasingly likely the financial backing could be withdrawn, leaving the league needing to secure a new investor or explore alternative structures to continue operations.
LIV Golf Mexico City marks the sixth event of the 14-tournament 2026 season, with the circuit now approaching a critical juncture in its evolution.
The uncertainty extends to DeChambeau’s own future too.
Bryson DeChambeau
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The two-time U.S. Open champion is reportedly seeking a new LIV Golf contract worth in the region of $500 million.
His current deal — believed to exceed $125 million — runs until the end of the 2026 season.
Whether negotiations have taken a further step back as a result of this week’s news coming out of LIV Golf remains to be seen.
DeChambeau has strengthened his negotiating position through a combination of strong recent league form — including back-to-back victories in Singapore and South Africa last month — and his growing global profile via YouTube and social media platforms.
Speculation has intensified in recent weeks that he could even consider a return to the PGA Tour, following players such as Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, who have re-engaged with the traditional circuit this season.
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DeChambeau has also hinted he could pursue a more independent route via his YouTube platform if required.
O’Neil provides latest on DeChambeau contract talks
Despite the speculation, O’Neil struck a confident tone when discussing DeChambeau’s future on Thursday.
“I am with Bryson way more than I am with my own family,” O’Neil told former European Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson, who now works for TNT.
“We spend quite a bit of time together travelling the world. I can tell you there is nobody more passionate about this game… nobody more passionate about team golf… nobody more passionate about growing the game than Bryson.
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“He loves LIV Golf and I’m pretty confident we’ll find a solution.”
For now, however, both DeChambeau and LIV Golf face an uncertain road ahead — on and off the course.
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