Bryson DeChambeau’s Pledge to LIV Golf, How Much Does It Really Mean?
Public loyalty in professional sports is a performance in itself—how much can we really trust what athletes say about their future?
In professional sports, public loyalty is often more about timing than permanence. Bryson DeChambeau’s recent reaffirmation of his commitment to LIV Golf is the latest in a long line of athletes standing by their current employer, because, well, that’s what they have to do.
At a press conference ahead of a LIV event in Hong Kong, DeChambeau dismissed speculation about a PGA Tour return, insisting he was “very excited about the future of LIV Golf” and focused on building a “lasting legacy.”
There’s no reason to doubt his sincerity right now, and that’s not the intention of this article. But as we’ve seen across sports, a public declaration today doesn’t necessarily dictate future actions. Athletes across the NFL, NBA, Formula 1, and soccer regularly toe the company line while under contract, only to shift direction when circumstances change.
Golf, a sport historically untouched by the concept of franchise-style movement, is now experiencing this dynamic in real-time, and as a multi-sport fan that’s used to these grand loyalty statements, I always take them with a pinch of salt.
Throughout the PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf saga, fans and analysts have heard countless declarations about ‘loyalty’ and ‘growing the game.’ And for many, these statements often ring hollow. In the NBA or soccer, it’s understood that players will express total commitment to their club, right up until they’re ready to move.
The frustration within the golf world is understandable. Before LIV, golfers were free agents in the truest sense, moving from event to event, not between leagues. The arrival of LIV Golf forced players to take sides, creating an entirely new kind of league-athlete relationship. And with contracts come PR obligations.
No athlete in any sport is going to publicly question the hand that feeds them while still collecting a paycheck, especially in the middle of a potential merger between their league and its primary competitor.
Across sports, fans have learned to take loyalty statements with a pinch of salt. Cristiano Ronaldo once said he would end his career at Real Madrid, until he left for Juventus. Messi intended to only ever play for Barcelona, until he didn’t, and in F1, drivers praise their teams publicly right up until they switch to a new garage.
That’s not to say these statements are false at the time of saying them, but the nature of franchise sports means athletes don’t have full control of the outcome so things can change, and they do, often!
One major variable in all of this is the potential PGA Tour-LIV Golf truce. If an agreement is reached, LIV players may suddenly have a viable route back to the PGA Tour. Would they take it? And if they do, how will these current declarations of loyalty be remembered?
Given the ongoing negotiations, no LIV player is going to publicly waver in their stance, it would weaken their position and potentially damage their own leverage in future career moves.
The key takeaway here isn’t that DeChambeau is being disingenuous. He is simply doing what athletes in every other major sport do, expressing full commitment to a franchise that he is under contract with. If history is any indication, should the circumstances change, it’s likely the rhetoric will too.
The world of golf is changing. It’s becoming more like other professional sports, where loyalty is a business decision as much as it is a personal conviction. Fans may roll their eyes at statements like DeChambeau’s, but they shouldn’t be surprised. This is just part of the game now, and it’s only going to become more common as golf continues down this path.
Thanks for reading, David Skilling.
Follow me on LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Bluesky
If you know someone who’ll enjoy this article, please share it with them.