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Brooks Koepka is returning to the PGA Tour, and Bryson DeChambeau might be open to doing the same.
There was a potentially major shift in the golf world to open 2026 when Brooks Koepka announced his return to the PGA Tour. He might not be the only LIV superstar who wants to get back to his old stomping grounds.
Koepka, who announced in December he was leaving LIV, wasted little time filling out his 2026 schedule. He and the Tour announced on Jan. 12 that he’d return to the Tour after four years on LIV. In the process, the Tour announced its new pathway window program for LIV players to return. The specific criteria was aimed three other players — Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith and Bryson DeChambeau — and is open until Feb. 2.
It might be a long shot that any of those players goes through the litigious process to return, but DeChambeau might already be planning his eventual exit. Golf Digest’s Joel Beall reported there are “whispers” DeChambeau wants to return to the Tour when his contract runs up.
Bryson DeChambeau LIV Contract Could Be Major Inflection Point for Golf
DeChambeau is reportedly entering the final year of his deal with LIV, setting the stage for a fascinating showdown.
“DeChambeau is the wild card,” Beall wrote. “Whispers suggest he wants out when his LIV contract expires this year. His asking price is steep, and he’s demanding more control over LIV’s direction. Tour officials recognize their exemption could serve as leverage in his negotiations. Still, it’s a chance to reclaim LIV’s two best players and block them from landing elsewhere, like the DP World Tour.”
For many reasons, it seems unlikely DeChambeau will bolt for the Tour this season. To do so, he — and every involved — would likely end up in a courtroom, as he has a year left on his contract with the Saudi-backed league.
DeChambeau Wants ‘Change’ on LIV?
However, the two-time US Open champion has been upfront about his desire to see change in the league.
“Things have got to change. Things have got to improve,” DeChambeau told Flushing It, per Golf.com. “And I think (LIV CEO Scott O’Neil) has done a fabulous job with the year that he’s had. And I think this year’s going to be even better, now that he’s got the right people in place, and he can run the organization he wants to do this here. … I don’t run this thing at all. I don’t really have much say, to be honest with you. Which is funny, but it is what it is, right? And you know, I sometimes wish I had more say, but that’s life, and I don’t run the organization and I trust them to do that.”
In the same interview, DeChambeau spoke somewhat presciently about a potential pathway for players to return to the PGA Tour, as he speculated about Koepka’s decision (before news of a Tour return).
I don’t know what (the Tour) should allow or not … If they’re going to be doing it by the book, they should do it by the book and not give any special exemption,” he said. “But if there’s a special exemption, it definitely opens the doors for others to do the same, which, you know, it’s a slippery slope for sure.”
For now, those doors are wide open for someone like DeChambeau to walk through and return to the PGA Tour.
Mike Cole Mike Cole covers golf as well as the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans for Heavy.com. He previously worked at NESN where he covered Boston sports (and much more) for 15 years. More about Mike Cole
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