PGA Tour players build case to block rivals from competing in brutal move

Several players on the PGA Tour are reportedly building a massive case to impact Bryson DeChambeau's potential return.

In what has undoubtedly been the biggest story in golf in several years, it was confirmed back in April that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) would stop financing LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season.

The tour is currently on a 47-day break while the US Open and The Open are being played, before resuming for an event in England on the weekend of July 23–26.

LIV Golf's 2026 season will then end in late August, prompting questions over what will be next for many of the tour's players.

As it stands, LIV Golf CEO Scott O'Neil is still attempting to find new investors willing to give $300m to fund the breakaway league, while several of the biggest stars consider making a move elsewhere.

READ MORE: Major LIV Golf update emerges after CEO makes 'urgent' comment

Among the biggest names linked with a departure is DeChambeau, who has been tipped to rejoin the PGA Tour or even take the time to focus on his YouTube career and only play in the four majors.

However, should he decide to make an effort to rejoin the American tour, he will reportedly face major opposition from some players who are said to have "memorised everything negative" about the PGA Tour that DeChambeau has ever said since his controversial switch to LIV Golf.

According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, there is significant “scar tissue” following DeChambeau’s PGA Tour exit and he would face a tough road back should that be his decision.

"He is the most polarising in terms of whether they are going to let him come back," Schlabach told The Pat McAfee Show.

"There is definitely going to be a big penalty [if he wants to come back].

"I was told there are guys in the PGA Tour locker room that have memorised everything negative he has said about the PGA Tour over the last four or five years.

"There is obviously a ton of scar tissue when it comes to Bryson.

"He is a huge name. He is massively popular among kids, but he may well be making YouTube videos for a while before he can come back on the PGA Tour."

What penalty would Bryson DeChambeau have to pay if he returns to the PGA Tour?

Should DeChambeau come back to the PGA Tour he would not be the first player to return after leaving to join LIV Golf.

Back in January, Brooks Koepka called time on his LIV Golf career and returned to the PGA, but it wasn't cheap.

As part of his deal, Koepka agreed to a five-year ineligibility period for the PGA Tour’s player equity programme, which is believed to be worth between $50-80m (£37–58m).

Alongside this, the American was required to make a $5m (£3.65m) charitable donation requirement and accept the loss of eligibility for 2026 FedExCup bonus payments.

Although it is not sure exactly what DeChambeau would have to pay in order to secure a move back to the PGA Tour, it's clear that the players and the Tour itself would likely ensure that his deal is even more severe than the one given to Koepka.