Bryson DeChambeau Drops Out of LIV Golf-PGA Tour Lawsuit, No Other Players Remain
Bryson DeChambeau has removed his name from the lawsuit involving the LIV Golf League and the PGA Tour, meaning none of the original 11 members who were part of the legal action brought last August are part of it.
Sports Illustrated confirmed that DeChambeau and Matt Jones, the remaining players part of the suit, had removed their names following Peter Uihlein doing so last week. Brett Falkoff, DeChambeau’s agent, confirmed to SI that DeChambeau is no longer involved.
Golfweek first reported the developments Thursday.
The original lawsuit, which accused the PGA Tour of antitrust violations, was brought by 11 players, including Phil Mickelson. LIV Golf, funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, later joined as a plaintiff.
After LIV’s involvement, several players no longer felt the need to participate. Three of the original plaintiffs—Talor Gooch, Hudson Swafford and Jones—at first sought a restraining order to be able to compete in the FedEx Cup playoffs last August. A Northern California court ruled in the PGA Tour's favor.
"Now that LIV is involved it’s not necessary for me to be involved," Mickelson said last September prior to dropping out of the suit. "The only reason for me to stay in is (monetary) damages, which I don’t really want or need anything. I do think it’s important that the players have the right to play when and where they want, when and where they qualify for. And now that LIV is a part of it that will be accomplished if and when they win."
DeChambeau had remained committed to the lawsuit because he argued he was owed money by the PGA Tour under the initial Player Impact Program bonus structure that was put in place in 2021 when he finished fifth and was due a $3.5 million bonus. He received only half.
But he told Golfweek Wednesday: “I have a responsibility to grow the Crushers (the LIV Golf team he captains), grow my team, and I really need to focus on golf for the most part. It has been a bit of a focus of mine, but it has gotten to a point where it’s going to happen, no matter what. They’ll resolved it, it'll be figured out one way or the other, and it’s not my fight. That’s my thought on it."
DeChambeau is among 18 LIV players who will compete at the PGA Championship next week. He is in the field based on his 2020 U.S. Open victory. Others who got in were given exemptions based on being ranked among the top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Paul Casey is the only LIV player outside of the top 100 who was not otherwise exempt who was offered an invite.
LIV Golf begins play in its sixth of 14 events this year on Friday in Tulsa, Okla.