DeChambeau joins LIV Golf in $100m deal, loses sponsorship

Bryson DeChambeau has joined LIV Golf

Major champion and eight-time PGA Tour winner Bryson DeChambeau has joined the new Saudi-backed LIV Golf series for a reported $100m and will play in the second event.

The 2020 US Open champion’s arrival was confirmed during the second round of LIV Golf’s inaugural event at Centurion Club and the big-hitting American will tee it up as part of the next 48-man field in Portland at the start of July.

It has already cost him a major sponsorship deal with partner Rocket Mortgage cutting ties with the Ryder Cup star.

DeChambeau had been an ambassador of the mortgage loan provider since April 2021 and had won the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2020.

The World No.28’s move has long been rumoured and was all but confirmed by his manager earlier in the week, but LIV have now rubberstamped the deal, which will see the 28-year-old suspended by the PGA Tour.

RELATED: PGA Tour suspends LIV Golf players

The US Ryder Cup star had distanced himself from the move during his return to golf at last week’s Memorial Tournament, saying: “For me, I personally don’t think that at this point in time I’m in a place in my career where I can risk things like that.

“I’m loyal to my family that I’ve created around me with sponsors and everything. And as of right now, the golf world is probably going to change in some capacity. I don’t know what that is. Not my job to do so.

“I’m just going to keep playing professional golf and enjoy it wherever it takes me, play with the best players in the world. That’s really all I’ve got, that’s what I’ll do for the rest of my life, because I want to be one of the best players in the world.”

RELATED: Everything you need to know about LIV Golf

LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman welcomed DeChambeau’s arrival.

“Bryson DeChambeau is an exciting addition to LIV Golf’s supercharged style of play,” the Australian said. “He is passionate about the sport, innovative in his approach and committed to pushing the boundaries in pursuit of excellence.

“He’s not afraid to think outside the box and supports our mission of doing things differently to grow our game. The power and energy he brings to the course will deliver added electricity to our competition in Portland and beyond.”

Commenting on their decision to end their relationship with DeChambeau, Rocket Mortgage said: “Rocket Mortgage has been a long-time supporter of the PGA Tour, both through our role as an official partner and as a tournament host.

“The Rocket Mortgage Classic has quickly become a fixture on the Tour, with players coming to Detroit to compete, while also raising crucial funds to help bridge the digital divide in our city.

“Our partnership with the PGA Tour extends to include several prominent golfers, including Bryson DeChambeau, as ambassadors of the Rocket Mortgage brand.

“As has been widely reported, Bryson elected to join the LIV Golf Series. Effective immediately, Rocket Mortgage has ended its sponsorship agreement with Bryson. We wish him well in his future success.”

DeChambeau wore the company’s logo on the sleeve of shirts during tournament and made a few corporate appearances on their behalf several times a year.

The two-time DP World Tour winner’s other sponsors, including Puma and Cobra, are yet to comment.

The American follows Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell in having sponsorship deals terminated after joining the series.

RBC dropped ambassadors Johnson and McDowell after the pair chose to play at Centurion rather than the RBC Canadian Open, while Mickelson’s relationship with Callaway remains ‘paused’, and deals with KPMG, Amstel Light and Workday were ended. The five-time Major champion has been wearing self-branded apparel in the first LIV Golf event.

Westwood’s deal with UPS was terminated last month after he announced plans to play.

DeChambeau is expected to be joined by fellow Ryder Cup stars Patrick Reed and Rickie Fowler.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.

READ NEXT: McDowell – LIV could cost me my Ryder Cup dreams

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rob Jerram is the Digital Editor of todaysgolfer.co.uk

He has been a journalist for more than 20 years, starting his career with Johnston Press where he covered local and regional news and sport in a variety of editorial roles across ten years.

Rob joined Bauer Media in 2010 and worked as the Senior Production Editor of Today’s Golfer and Golf World magazines for ten years before moving into the Digital Editor’s role in July 2020.

He has been playing golf for almost three decades and has been a member at Greetham Valley in Rutland for eight years, playing off a 12 handicap.

Rob uses a Ping G driver, Ping G 3-wood, TaylorMade M5 5-wood, TaylorMade P790 irons (4-PW), Ping Glide 2.0 Stealth wedges (52º, 56º, 60º), Evnroll ER2 putter, and TaylorMade Tour Response golf ball.

You can email Rob or get in touch with him on Twitter.