Last week, the MyGolfSpy staff group chat had a poll with a simple question:
“Does Bryson need the PGA Tour?”
The votes were ultimately negative. No, the Tour doesn’t need it.
It’s an interesting question, isn’t it? Regardless of your opinion of Bryson DeChambeau, he is, at the very least, the third-highest draw of any active player in the game.
Who brings more eyes to golf? Tiger is essentially retired. You could probably argue for a Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth or Scottie Scheffler ahead of him. However, Bryson could be considered the no. 1 in terms of generating fan interest in a tournament.
He is loved by some and despised by many. He’s one of the few love-it-or-hate-it golfers the Tour could use.
But it’s fair to say that the question changes dramatically if you change need THE they want.
The tour is not necessarily need any single player. She’s survived the post-Tiger era—and if she can survive without him, she can survive without Bryson. TV ratings are strong this year and guys are playing for $20 million purses.
Will likely remain successful with or without Bryson. OK?
So maybe the Tour doesn’t need Bryson in the fact that he is necessary for their growth or survival.
But the Tour does they want Bryson returns?
They have already shown their cards that they want him back (very Jackson 5).
Potentially messy return of LIV players
You are no doubt aware of the current situation of LIV Golf. Although it appears the league will play the remainder of its events for the 2026 season, anything beyond that is very much at risk of not happening.
Without LIV funding from the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the county must now play by normal business rules. That means a sudden and deep infusion of corporate dollars.
I think Bryson’s $500 million payout doesn’t help the table much. Heck, his $5 million payday could be a huge liability here.
Regardless, you get the point: LIV is on life support.
I’ve written at length before about how LIV players can return to tournaments (if they want to).
The simple part is that Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has stated several times that he wants to improve the Tour product. This is his mission. And adding world-class talent like Bryson and Jon Rahm would accomplish that.
The tour has already offered to bring them back through the Returning Member Program from earlier this year. They could, in theory, bring LIV’s two stars back into the fold with minimal interference. Brooks Koepka is an active example of this.
However, Rolapp has signaled that future sentences will be harsher given the circumstances.
Bryson called that reality “very unfortunate in my opinion, considering what I could do for them.”
Geez, man. Can you at least pretend to be humble?
There will likely be suspensions and consequences for guys like DeChambeau to find their way back. It could be more than a full year before we see him on Tour again, even if LIV disappears after this season.
Putting that aside for a moment, let’s talk about whether Bryson would return to the Tour if the opportunity presented itself.
Bryson is sending mixed signals (and his PR team has work to do)
At the beginning of this year, I wrote about whether DeChambeau would seriously consider playing golf on YouTube full time.
“I think, from my perspective, I’d like to grow my YouTube channel three times, maybe more,” DeChambeau told ESPN. “I’d like to do a bunch of dubs in different languages, giving the world more reasons to watch YouTube. And then I’d like to play tournaments that love me.”
It’s possible from a financial perspective – and he keeps talking about the option – but I think a massive problem would prevent him from doing it.
Imagine showing up to the Masters and having limited competitive reps? Breaking 50 isn’t exactly The Players Championship.
It just seems like Bryson would eventually fall out of shape if he didn’t have a home tournament where he was constantly playing competitive golf against world-class talent. Say what you will about LIV and its exhibition golf tendencies, these were at least structured tournaments with pros. Golf on YouTube is for content only.
What about getting back on tour? Would he do that?
The short summary is that we’re not really sure. It gives mixed signals.
In recent interviews, DeChambeau has come off as even more egotistical than normal.
“Look, the PGA Tour isn’t doing well either,” he told ESPN. “Let’s be honest about the situation. They’ve got the media. They’ve got everybody on the side helping to build it up. But they’re downsizing the fields, cutting staff and restructuring their business as well.”
The Tour recently cut 56 staff members in a recent downsizing, though DeChambeau’s characterization of the Tour is a little extremeespecially when you consider LIV’s situation.
In another interview, DeChambeau said it would be up to the Tour membership to decide whether or not he is welcome to return, which seemed to indicate he would be interested (there have also been reports that his team has been in contact with Tour officials about a return).
Personally, I think a little awareness and remorse would go a long way here.
He’s given up any goodwill he’s gained from being a content creator in recent years. I think he needs a new PR team.
Just say you’re playing LIV for the rest of your contract – which ends after this season – and then you’ll assess your options.
One of the problems the Tour has with Bryson’s return is his inability to create content around Tour events. He brought the problem before LIV Virginia.
“If I filmed a video during the week of one of their events with a content creator or a celebrity, that would be against my knowledge… It’s their policy, they wouldn’t let me do it when I was there,” he told Skratch.
However, this is not entirely correct. There is currently no limit to how much in-country player-generated content can be published during non-competitive days. DeChambeau can film an entire practice round at a Tour event and release it, according to Front Office Sports.
There are still restrictions on competition days, but the Tour is preparing to issue new media guidelines that offer a little more freedom.
Changes include:
- Players will now be allowed to share three minutes of locally created content during competition days, up from two minutes previously.
- After the end of the tournament’s one-round TV coverage window, players will now be allowed to post broadcast footage of up to six shots per round, totaling up to one minute of highlights, up from a single shot previously.
- Players can post highlights from TV coverage to social media 72 hours after an event ends – this is considered archival footage, which is increasing to eight minutes allowed per video (up from five) and 120 minutes in total on each player’s YouTube channel (up from 60).
The tour has been less restrictive with media rights and it feels inevitable that more flexibility will come in the future. It doesn’t seem like a complete excuse Bryson could use to avoid playing the tournament.
conclusion
Does the tournament need Bryson?
No. It would survive without it.
Still, it’s clear the Tour would benefit from DeChambeau’s inclusion. He cares about the fans about the product.
I think the Tour will be motivated to find a way to bring it back. And I think Bryson would want to come back, even if there are some consequences to deal with.
What are your thoughts? Let me know below in the comments.
Main photo caption: Bryson DeChambeau may be looking for a way back to the PGA Tour. (GETTY IMAGES/Hector Vivas)
