Bryson DeChambeau Threatens to Leave LIV Golf Over Format Change: “We Didn’t Sign Up for This”

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, February 5, 2026 – In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through the fractured world of professional golf, Bryson DeChambeau has publicly threatened to leave LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season, citing deep feelings of betrayal over the league’s decision to abandon its signature 54-hole format in favor of traditional 72-hole events. The two-time U.S.

Open champion’s comments, delivered in a candid interview with *Today’s Golfer* just days before the start of the LIV season opener in Riyadh, expose growing fractures within the Saudi-backed league and raise serious questions about its long-term viability and appeal to elite talent.

DeChambeau, whose massive multi-year contract with LIV expires at the conclusion of 2026, did not mince words when addressing the format shift announced by LIV Golf in November 2025. “It’s definitely changed away from what we had initially been told it was going to be,” he said. “We didn’t sign up to play for 72 holes.

That’s not what drew us in.” The comments mark the strongest public dissent yet from a high-profile player since LIV’s inception in 2022, and they come at a critical juncture as the league seeks Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognition—widely seen as the primary motivation for the change—and attempts to stabilize amid ongoing PGA Tour negotiations and player retention challenges.

The 54-hole format was more than just a scheduling quirk; it was the core identity of LIV Golf. The league’s very name—“LIV” is the Roman numeral for 54—symbolized its revolutionary promise: shorter, more intense events designed to reduce player fatigue, increase entertainment value, and differentiate from the PGA Tour’s grueling four-day structure. Greg Norman, LIV’s CEO and outspoken critic of traditional golf governance, repeatedly assured early signatories like DeChambeau that the three-round model was permanent.

It was a key selling point in the massive guaranteed contracts that lured stars away from the PGA Tour—promises of less grind, more family time, higher earnings, and a fresh alternative to the establishment.

DeChambeau, who joined LIV in June 2022 shortly after winning his second major at the 2020 U.S. Open, cited the condensed format as a major factor in his decision to reject lucrative PGA Tour offers and extensions. “The idea was liberation from the old way,” he has said in prior interviews. “Three days of high-stakes golf, shotgun starts, team competition— that was the vision.” The shift to 72 holes, effective for all individual events in 2026 (with the team championship retaining elements of the old format), feels like a betrayal of that vision.

DeChambeau’s frustration echoes a sentiment shared quietly by other players: the league is moving toward the very structure they sought to escape.

The change was formally announced on November 4, 2025, with LIV CEO Scott O’Neil framing it as “a pivotal new chapter” to deliver “more action and entertainment for fans worldwide.” Tournaments will now span Thursday to Sunday (with the opener in Riyadh running Wednesday to Saturday), maintaining the 54-player field, shotgun starts, and no-cut policy. All four scores per team will count each round, building on adjustments made in 2025. LIV insists the move enhances competitiveness and aligns with global standards—particularly to bolster its OWGR application, which was approved earlier this week after years of rejection.

Yet critics, including DeChambeau, see it as capitulation. The 72-hole format is viewed as a concession to traditional golf gatekeepers—the PGA Tour, USGA, R&A, and OWGR board—in hopes of gaining legitimacy and major eligibility pathways for LIV players. Jon Rahm, another LIV superstar, has expressed mild support for the change, noting it could benefit ranking points and major qualification, but DeChambeau’s stance highlights a significant disconnect. “We were told it was going to be this,” he emphasized. “So there is some movement that we’ve all been… going, ‘Why that movement?’ That’s definitely made us have some different thoughts about it.”

DeChambeau stopped short of confirming an immediate exit—“I’ve got a contract for this year, and we’ll go through it there and see what happens after that”—but his tone was ominous. He described the shift as making him “a little indifferent” and questioned whether LIV remains “different” from the PGA Tour. With his contract expiring, the two-time major winner holds significant leverage. A departure could trigger a domino effect, especially if other disgruntled players follow suit. LIV has already lost momentum with the PGA Tour-LIV merger talks stalling and stars like Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson facing scrutiny over performance.

The implications are profound. LIV Golf was born as a disruptive force—backed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)—challenging the PGA Tour’s monopoly with innovative formats, massive purses, and team elements. The 54-hole model differentiated it, attracting players tired of the four-day slog. By reverting to 72 holes, LIV risks diluting its unique selling point and alienating the very talent it paid billions to acquire. DeChambeau’s public outcry serves as a warning: the league’s evolution toward conventionality could erode player loyalty and credibility.

For DeChambeau personally, the stakes are high. The 32-year-old has thrived on LIV’s platform, winning multiple events and embracing its team format with Crushers GC. His outspoken nature—once controversial on the PGA Tour—now positions him as a voice for players who feel the original promises have been compromised. “We didn’t sign up for 72 holes,” he reiterated in follow-up comments, underscoring a broader sentiment that LIV’s “revolution” may be morphing into assimilation.

LIV executives have remained diplomatic, with O’Neil emphasizing growth and fan engagement. But the league faces a pivotal moment: retain its revolutionary ethos or fully integrate into the traditional ecosystem. DeChambeau’s dissatisfaction may reflect concerns among others who joined for the disruption, not conformity.

As the 2026 season tees off in Riyadh, all eyes are on DeChambeau and LIV’s response. His threat to leave is more than personal frustration—it’s a referendum on whether the league can honor the principles that built it. In a sport divided by money, power, and identity, Bryson DeChambeau has drawn a line in the sand. How LIV navigates this crisis will determine if it remains a bold alternative or becomes just another tour.