Bryson DeChambeau has never been particularly difficult to spot in a crowd, and this week in Indianapolis, he made sure the assembled media knew he had spotted them, too.
The American golfer took a foul-mouthed swipe at a group of journalists while practicing ahead of LIV Golf’s season finale, calling them the “mafia.”
“Ooh, the mafia has arrived—the mafia. You guys love talking s**t,” DeChambeau said after noticing reporters gathered near the driving range.
According to reports, one journalist who witnessed the exchange believed DeChambeau was “mostly joking.” But the reporter also indicated that the two-time U.S. Open champion has been frustrated by how he has been portrayed in recent months.
DeChambeau’s Wild Summer Continues
The timing makes the exchange particularly notable. DeChambeau arrived in Indianapolis with questions swirling around both his own future and that of LIV Golf.
The 2026 LIV season is ending one week earlier than originally scheduled after the circuit canceled its planned individual and team championship in Michigan. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced earlier this year that it would stop bankrolling the tour beyond 2026, creating fresh uncertainty about what happens next.
For DeChambeau, it is another headline in an already eventful summer.
At the Open Championship, he threatened to withdraw and even suggested calling President Donald Trump following a furious dispute over a two-stroke penalty. Not long afterward, another incident attracted attention when one of DeChambeau’s wayward drives nearly hit fellow LIV golfer Ian Poulter in the head.
Now the focus has shifted to whether DeChambeau will even remain with LIV after this season.
LIV Boss Wants DeChambeau to Stay
His current agreement reportedly runs through the end of 2026 and is worth more than $100 million. Earlier this year, reports claimed he could be seeking as much as $500 million to sign another LIV deal.
LIV CEO Scott O’Neil has said the organization has secured new investment that will allow it to continue beyond the current season. But when asked about DeChambeau’s future this week, O’Neil could offer hope rather than confirmation.
“I’ll leave all individual player questions to individual players,” O’Neil said when the reported financial demands were raised.
He was considerably more enthusiastic when discussing what DeChambeau has meant to the league.
“Bryson has become a good friend, a good advocate of the league. I certainly hope he’s with us for the future,” O’Neil said. “He’s been extremely supportive, as I can say most of the big guys have been.”
O’Neil also said DeChambeau “cares about the global game of golf” and “cares about building this next generation of fans.”
McIlroy Takes a Shot at LIV’s Biggest Names
But LIV’s ability to retain its biggest names is now under scrutiny, particularly after Brooks Koepka left the circuit and returned to the PGA Tour.
That possibility has inevitably raised questions about whether other prominent LIV players could eventually follow him.
Rory McIlroy was asked at the BMW Championship whether returning LIV stars might bring additional value to the PGA Tour. His response was pointed.
“I mean, I’d argue, have they brought value to LIV?” McIlroy said.
For DeChambeau, the immediate job is competing in Indianapolis. What happens after the final shots of LIV’s shortened 2026 season could prove considerably more consequential. With his contract nearing its end, LIV hoping to keep one of its most recognizable players and no new agreement confirmed, the questions surrounding his future are unlikely to disappear when the journalists leave the driving range.
