Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Rory McIlroy shares bold view on Bryson DeChambeau staying with LIV Golf

Originally posted on HITC | By Jordan Harris | Last updated Jan 16, 2026 8:54 AM ET

LIV Golf might not be in immediate danger of folding, but losing Bryson DeChambeau when his contract runs out at the end of the year is a hit they cannot afford to take.

DeChambeau is now the only player in the league to have won a major after signing with LIV.

And he is not just one of the most popular names on tour, but among fans worldwide. Therefore, losing him would be another blow to LIV’s efforts to close ground on the PGA Tour, if that is still even an achievable goal.

But according to Rory McIlroy, it may already be too late for the Saudi-backed league to do anything about it.

Rory McIlroy questions LIV Golf’s benefit in paying Bryson DeChambeau $500m

Photo by Raj Mehta/Getty Images

Reports indicate that DeChambeau is seeking a $500 million deal to stay with LIV Golf. The league is expected to meet his demands, given how important he has become as the captain of Crushers GC.

However, speaking to The Telegraph, McIlroy suggested that even if LIV secures DeChambeau, it might not make much difference overall.

“It’s not as if they made any huge signings this year, is it?

“They haven’t signed anyone who moves the needle and I don’t think they will. I mean, they could re-sign Bryson for hundreds of millions of dollars, but even if they do, it doesn’t change their product does it?

“They’ll just be paying for the exact same thing. And they’ve lost Brooks, so they’ll be paying out all this money.”

Bryson DeChambeau’s decision carries more weight for LIV Golf than the PGA Tour

For many fans, seeing DeChambeau sign a new deal with LIV would be seen as a positive statement for the league. After all, their momentum has clearly stalled in recent months.

This may encourage fence-sitting players to join LIV, who may wait for clarity on whether the league’s top players will remain.

But in reality, the PGA Tour are under no pressure to bring DeChambeau back. If he were to return, it would obviously be another boost, but he is not needed for them to continue holding the edge over LIV.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: