Professional golf stands at a fascinating crossroads in early 2025. While the headlines have focused on the ongoing merger negotiations between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, the recent meeting with President Trump might bring things “closer to a final deal.” The landscape has shifted significantly in recent months as well.

Major championships have begun embracing LIV Golf, with both the U.S. Open and The Open Championship creating direct pathways for LIV players. The USGA’s announcement grants the top non-exempt LIV golfer ranked in the top three a full exemption, while The Open offers spots to leading LIV performers post-Dallas. This legitimacy, combined with LIV’s Fox Sports partnership and the recent signing of Jon Rahm for a reported $500 million, suggested the Saudi-backed league was gaining solid footing. However, beneath this apparent progress, a crucial development threatens to reshape LIV Golf’s future.

A moment of truth for LIV Golf

Speaking on the Dan On Golf Show, veteran golf journalist Alan Shipnuck dropped a bombshell about LIV’s future: “If they lose either of those two guys (Bryson or Brooks), it’s over. This is a moment of inflection for Yasir.”The timing of Shipnuck’s revelation is particularly noteworthy given Koepka’s and DeChambeau’s contract situation.

With Koepka’s $130 million deal set to expire in 2025, these comments come at a moment when contract renewal discussions would typically be underway. This timing, combined with Koepka’s recent emphasis on major championship performance over LIV success, adds weight to Shipnuck’s concerns. Despite accumulating $38.8 million in LIV earnings and securing five top-10 finishes in 2024, including victories at Singapore and Greenbrier, Koepka revealed his priorities at LIV Golf Chicago.

“The majors were terrible. I put a lot of emphasis on those, and just cutting those wasn’t—that’s how I judge my year.” Stating that he still holds major wins as a measuring yardstick for his performance. What makes Shipnuck’s revelation even more intriguing is his suggestion about the PGA Tour’s strategy.

“They have game planned this,“ he dropped another of those bombshells, referring to how names like Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, and Commissioner Jay Monahan strategically planned negotiations this way to have an upper hand. The PGA Tour’s leadership might be anticipating, even hoping for, such departures to strengthen their position in merger negotiations.

Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau who was contracted until late 2026 for $125 million, were cornerstone acquisitions for LIV. Their major championship pedigrees—Koepka’s five majors and DeChambeau’s 2024 U.S. Open victory—provided instant credibility to the breakaway tour.

For Yasir Al-Rumayyan, this inflection point comes at a critical time. With merger negotiations extended beyond their original December 2023 deadline and now targeting April 2025, the retention of star players has become crucial for maintaining leverage. As Shipnuck emphasizes, this moment could define whether LIV enters merger talks from a position of strength or weakness. These contract renewals have sparked intense fan speculation of a possible LIV exodus.

Fan reactions fuel speculation

“He’s right, but I only think one of those two guys matters. Bryson could command a billion. I don’t think that is a wild presumption at all,” one fan noted, highlighting DeChambeau’s growing influence. Indeed, with 2.2 million Instagram followers and 16.7 million YouTube subscribers, DeChambeau’s media presence has grown significantly since joining LIV. Fans are tuning in to watch LIV to see him play, and to say that he is now promoting LIV by just playing there could be an understatement.

Other observers focus on Koepka’s situation. “Bryson has a strong presence on YouTube, but Brooks I almost never see (other than the majors). He may be the one to leave maybe,” suggested one fan, echoing Koepka’s own recent comments about prioritizing majors over LIV success. Koepka’s inability to secure even a top-25 finish in any of the four majors seems to weigh heavily on his mind.

“I believe Brooks is back on PGA tour,” commented another fan. ” @BKoepka come home!,” wrote another hinting at the 5x major winner heading back to the Tour.

The practical aspects of a potential return generate discussion. “Leave and go where? Thought they couldn’t return to PGA Tour?” one fan questioned. This touches on a crucial point—the PGA Tour’s current stance on LIV players. PGA Tour has banned LIV golfers from playing on the Tour, so this is an understandable question.

Some fans see the strategic implications. “Seems like a failed experiment. Wonder how long PIF will pour money down a drain,” reflects growing questions about LIV’s sustainability without its star players. Others remain skeptical of any changes, noting, “They enjoy their freedom, don’t see them leaving, but you never know.”

These fan discussions highlight the complexity of both players’ situations as contract renewal talks approach. What do you think about these perspectives? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.