Bryson DeChambeau reacts to PGA Tour return policy as he continues facing an uncertain period in his professional career following the collapse of LIV Golf, with questions growing over where the two-time US Open champion will play next.
The American was one of the biggest names to leave the PGA Tour for the Saudi-backed league in 2022. Now, with LIV Golf entering liquidation, attention has turned to whether its leading players can find a way back to the established tours.
DeChambeau has previously made clear that a return to the PGA Tour would depend, in part, on how its membership views his comeback. Speaking in May, he suggested that the attitude of fellow players would matter more to him than the opinions of senior executives.
“I think there’s a way to solve any problem. It’s really about if the membership wants me back and if they just want me back. That’s what it’s about,” DeChambeau said.
He added that he would understand if the players did not want him to return.
“I don’t even think it’s [PGA Tour CEO] Brian Rolapp or anybody like one of the top executives, it’s really if the players want me back, and if not, then I understand that.”
However, the route back may not be straightforward. The PGA Tour introduced a limited-time Returning Member Program earlier this year, allowing a small group of eligible LIV players to apply for reinstatement under strict conditions.
Brooks Koepka was the only player to accept the offer, agreeing to a $5 million charitable contribution, a five-year forfeiture of player equity and exclusion from the 2026 FedExCup bonus pool. He was also denied sponsor exemptions into Signature Events.
DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith were among those who declined the opportunity.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp has since indicated that there are no current plans to reopen the special programme. The latest reports also suggest that the Tour will delay decisions on the wider return of LIV players until the league’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings have concluded, which could extend into January 2027.
DeChambeau has now addressed the end of LIV Golf in his first public statement since the league announced it would wind down operations.
The 33-year-old said he had no intention of rewriting his decision to join the breakaway circuit, but acknowledged that some of his comments during the dispute had not helped the situation.
“Arnold Palmer said no player is bigger than the game, and I want to acknowledge that, along the way, I’ve said some things that didn’t help,” he wrote.
“Whatever comes next, I’ll approach it with humility and respect for the people who carried this game long before me.”
His statement did not directly address the PGA Tour’s reinstatement policy or confirm whether he intends to seek membership again.
DeChambeau’s situation could also prove more complicated because of his involvement in the antitrust lawsuit filed against the PGA Tour by LIV players in 2022. That history, alongside the Tour’s reluctance to offer special treatment, could make any potential return difficult.
For now, the two-time major champion has not confirmed his long-term plans. He is scheduled to compete at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa in December, but what follows remains unclear as former LIV players assess their options.