When PIF backed away from its LIV Golf funding last year, Bryson DeChambeau became the LIV frontman. He went bullish with his commitment to the breakaway league, presenting pitches to potential investors and publicly pleading to give LIV one more shot. “Bryson is more pro-LIV than I am,” Scott O’Neil, LIV Golf CEO, once said. Now, as they plan to debut LIV 2.0 in 2027, he could be the difference maker for them. Heck, it could be a Bryson or bust for them. But here’s the thing, maybe there was always a clue that we missed.

With the clock ticking for final decisions for everyone, I presume that The Scientist has already given his answer to them for two reasons that couldn’t be more Bryson DeChambeau. But if there was still any doubt, ESPN recently revealed what his plans could be.

In its latest report, ESPN revealed that DeChambeau “remains committed to LIV Golf and is working diligently behind the scenes to bring LIV 2.0 to fruition.” While they still didn’t give a clear answer to why exactly this could be true, I have some reasoning.

For starters, his commitment to the breakaway league has been strong. But more importantly, he can be the face of the league now with Jon Rahm out of the picture. He was already getting a big check, of which he is still owed $5.77 million by LIV Golf, but Rahm’s departure must’ve further skyrocketed his value as the only attention puller remaining. DeChambeau is also probably going to get the biggest piece of the equity pie of all players if LIV 2.0 finally manages to have enough players for BC Partners to inject the promised $300 million by the end of this month. Speaking of the new investors, they could be the other reason why DeChambeau could return.

The London-based firm has ties to GSE Worldwide, the agency that represents DeChambeau along with other LIV Golfers. But the question is do you really believe they were ready to sign such a big check, despite knowing the losses LIV Golf incurred on PIF? They had to have enough confidence that the superstar will return to LIV once it is back to full operations. In fact, while DeChambeau is making the big gamble, I would make one of my own: He just might have signed a deal already behind the scenes.

If he is not putting the pen to paper already, it is very possible that DeChambeau has agreed to whatever special-crafted terms LIV 2.0 presented to him. Maybe they are simply waiting for the right moment to make the big announcement that would also satisfy the American’s ego. But then the question is, why wait when such an announcement will ultimately benefit everyone involved?

LIV Golf continues to lose its players as they bank on Bryson DeChambeau’s final response

A bankruptcy judge recently approved the formal rejection of DeChambeau’s contract, including 18 other players, effectively allowing them to become free agents. They all can still sign with the breakaway league on its new terms. But recently, things simply haven’t been going in its favor.

Fellow LIV golfer Jon Rahm reached a formal separation agreement to leave LIV Golf on October 14, after rejecting the league’s restructured ‘LIV 2.0’ terms. The deal, which requires final approval from a U.S. bankruptcy judge on November 5, allows Rahm to walk away from over $100 million in remaining contract value and unpaid earnings. Rahm, however, wasn’t the only player to leave the league.

Sergio Garcia, Thomas Pieters, Abraham Ancer, David Puig, and Adrian Meronk have also parted ways with the league after the DP World Tour played its hand.

While the European circuit had permitted its members to compete in LIV events in 2026, it reportedly warned that players signing contracts with LIV 2.0 would no longer be eligible to compete in its tournaments. LIV Golf responded by telling the bankruptcy court that the move was an “attempt to interfere” with its restructuring efforts and plans to launch LIV 2.0 next year.

LIV Golf now has until October 25 to sign enough players to its LIV 2.0 roster to satisfy demands from its new lead investor, BC Partners. According to NUCLR Golf, several players have already committed to the league, including Richard Bland, Cameron Tringale, Ben Campbell & Brendan Steele. Just four players, however, would hardly be enough to sustain LIV 2.0 in 2027.

Nevertheless, if the breakaway league survives its financial turmoil, it is expected to undergo significant changes.

What LIV 2.0 could look like

For starters, they are introducing a 36-hole cut, marking a major departure from its original no-cut format. The schedule would also shrink from 14 tournaments to just ten, split evenly between five events in the US and five internationally. Prize money would take a substantial hit as well.

While regular LIV Golf events previously offered $30 million purses, including $20 million for individual competition and $ten million for teams, the proposed restructuring would reduce purses to $ten million or less. Notably, if ESPN’s sources prove accurate, DeChambeau’s apparent willingness to remain with the struggling league contradicts the conversations his post in August sparked.

He had previously fueled speculation about his departure by sharing a carousel of highlights from his LIV Golf career on Instagram, captioned “It was a good run.” Still, even if he were to leave LIV Golf, an immediate return to the PGA Tour would be far from guaranteed.

Any potential comeback could require him to serve a suspension and settle outstanding fines, depending on the Tour’s reinstatement conditions. That being said, it appears he has decided to stick with LIV Golf for now.