There is a lot of eyes on LIV Golf at the moment. Not just because of the golf. But because of how their trajectory is expected to pan out. The people behind LIV do believe in the long-term success of the event, with LIV Adelaide signed for until 2031. But there are a few curious eyes looking for the tiniest cracks in the structure, the first of which could appear next year, when several big contracts are up for discussion.
Ryan Lavner and Rex Hoggard had a detailed discussion regarding LIV Golf’s current situation, with expiring contracts set to hit the ceiling in the coming summer. Tough decisions have to be made, especially when it comes to the ephemeral Bryson DeChambeau. “Bryson DeChambeau is LIV Golf’s most important asset. I am going from a business perspective here.” Hoggard expressed adamantly on the Golf Channel podcast.
These are not just casual words. Bryson DeChambeau’s personal YouTube channel has 1.93 M subscribers despite only uploading 196 videos. On the other hand, LIV Golf’s YouTube channel has posted 2.6k videos but only has 389k subscribers. It is very easy to see how popular Bryson is amongst golf fans. Having him in the circuit has helped in bringing more eyes to the Saudi-backed tour. Now, with his latest victory at LIV Golf Korea, that number is bound to keep increasing.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU WINS LIV GOLF KOREA 2025 #LIVGolfKorea @Crushers_GC pic.twitter.com/IZnNWmmW2s
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) May 4, 2025
“If they don’t re-sign him, you are essentially giving up at that point. I think Jon Rahm is the best player on that tour. But when it comes to reach, when it comes to popularity, when it comes to having a draw that can pull people in outside of golf. That’s Bryson DeChambeau.” Hoggard added further. The key piece would be the money up for grabs. Jon Rahm, when signed, was the hottest commodity and most in-form player. He was signed for reportedly $300 million dollars. This would give the folks like Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau a lot of leverage.
If any of the top names leave the circuit and rejoin PGA Tour, it will substantiate claims that LIV Golf is only as good as the money. This is going to be even more brutal in DeChambeau’s case as with his exodus, LIV Could also see a huge chunk of dedicated followers jump ship.
DeChambeau and Jon Rahm – Who stands out?
Leave the YouTube followers and subscribers aside. Another thing that stands out for the two-time US Open winner is that he consistently overachieves expectations at the majors, one of the common hunting areas for LIV and PGA Tour golfers. Since joining LIV, DeChambeau has featured in the top 6 of a major five times. Just including last year and this year, he has four top 6 finishes in five tries. This includes the 2024 US Open victory, which was the last time a LIV golfer achieved a major victory while being active on the Saudi-backed Tour.
Rahm, on the other hand, does define success inside the Tour. The Spaniard has yet to finish outside the top 10 in two years in LIV Golf. It is a remarkable feat, especially considering the fact he topped the money list and the individual points list last year on the circuit. But he has routinely slipped up when pitted against the best golfers in the world. His only noteworthy finish was a T7 at the Open Championship last year.
So, let’s get this straight. Bryson DeChambeau has more fans and brings in more eyes. He routinely over performs on the big stage. And at this point, his exit will put LIV Golf in a difficult and unexplainable position. How much do you think he should be paid for his continued presence?
The post LIV Golf’s $300M Contract for Jon Rahm Puts Them in Awkward Spot With Bryson DeChambeau, Says Insider appeared first on EssentiallySports.