Bryson DeChambeau has revealed he was caught off guard by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund’s decision to stop financing LIV Golf.

Speaking ahead of LIV’s Korea event, DeChambeau admitted he was “surprised” by the move but vowed to keep pushing forward to ensure LIV’s survival.

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“We were surprised that [the PIF] pulled out as quickly as they did. We didn’t really see that coming,” DeChambeau said.

“But that’s okay. One door closes, another opens. I think that’s the way a lot of us are looking at it. I think we all have optimism that there is a business plan that makes sense for team golf. I’d quite honestly actually — how do I say it? I’m very optimistic with the business plan of team golf compared to other models, in my opinion.”

“But again, other models have worked as well, so I’m not going to say that one is better than the other, but I do see value in what team golf can provide not only worldwide but also in grass rooting the game of golf,” he added.

“National support, team national support, city local support, we grass root ourselves there. There’s a couple ideas that we have — quite a few ideas that we have that could be interesting.”

Multiple reports have stated that LIV chief executive Scott O’Neil is looking to raise US$250 million from investors to keep the breakaway league afloat.

The PIF have lost more than US$5 billion since LIV began in 2022 and it is clear a downsized version will be necessary if LIV survives.

What 2027 and beyond may look like has started to become clearer this week.

LIV Adelaide champion Anthony Kim addressed next year’s potential schedule in his press conference with his 4Aces team members.

LIV are reportedly looking at playing five “team majors” and five “signature events” to create a balance of team and individual competition.

Kim, who has not played in a major since 2011, is closing in on a spot in the field for The Open Championship in what would be a significant accomplishment in his comeback after more than a decade in the wilderness due to drug and alcohol abuse.

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4Aces GC player Anthony Kim from the US celebrates with the trophy after winning the LIV Golf Adelaide tournament at The Grange Golf Club.Source: AFP

The 40-year-old American is fifth in LIV’s season long individual standings and the highest player who is not already exempt will earn a place in the field.

With top three Jon Rahm, DeChambeau and Australia’s Lucas Herbert already confirmed starters at Royal Birkdale, Kim needs to perform well to pip Thomas Detry for that place.

“Yeah, I obviously want to play in the majors. I want to play in the biggest events. That’s why I’m working,” he said.

“But I heard LIV is adding five more majors, so there will be nine majors to go after.”

Kim’s cheeky grin after saying that second sentence summed up the flavour of a press conference where 4Aces captain Dustin Johnson simply replied to a question asking for his opinion on the PIF pulling their funding by saying “long LIV Golf”.

DeChambeau, meanwhile, was in a more serious mood when discussing the league’s future.

The American recently flagged the possibility of focusing on his YouTube channel and playing the majors via his exemptions if LIV goes under, but he tried to stress in Korea that the unusual scenario is not his preference.

“We’ll see if investors like it or not,” he said. “I’m giving all I can to make it happen, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t happen.”

Asked how he can help, DeChambeau replied: “I go out there on the first tee on Thursday and hit a beautiful drive down the middle of the fairway, hopefully.

“That’s what we’re focused on. In the background, yeah, we’re trying to help where we can, but ultimately it’s up to executives and everybody banding together. If we all band together, there’s an opportunity here. If not, it’s going to be a different day for all of us.

“But for me, how I support, go out and hit a great drive on the first tee, play a great round of golf, sign autographs after and have a good time.”

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States looks on from the second tee during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.Source: Getty Images

On the golf course, DeChambeau has wrestled with contrasting fortunes this year.

He missed the cut at The Masters and the PGA Championship earlier this month, but has won LIV events in Singapore and South Africa.

The varying results have also led to mood swings from DeChambeau in public.

While he is a fan favourite of many for signing plenty of autographs at LIV events and making engaging social media content like when he tried to make a hole-in-one over his house, DeChambeau has also been ridiculed for a blow up over course conditions in Mexico City and being rude to reporters over questions about his 3D printed 5-iron at The Masters.

“I respect everybody’s opinion on me. I respect everybody that says that I’m the worst thing for golf or I’m the best thing for golf. It’s okay,” DeChambeau said.

“The reality is I’m so focused on what I can do for the game that somebody saying something online or to me personally in my face is not going to distract me from the mission that I have,” he added.

“I hope can understand that, that my goal is bigger than just winning every tournament every single week. Do I want to win every week? 100 per cent. Do I care about the game sometimes more than my own life? Yeah. Because I see what it can do for people’s lives. That’s ultimately why I care so much and I’m so passionate and I want the best for everybody.”

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States reacts on the seventh green during the second round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.Source: AFP

If LIV does go under and a path is given back to the PGA Tour for the likes of DeChambeau and Rahm – as they were offered at the beginning of the year when Brooks Koepka jumped back over the fence – things will look different next year to when they last played battled the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy week-in, week-out.

The Sports Business Journal’s Josh Carpenter reported that the schedule from the beginning of the year to the PGA Championship in May has been confirmed with the biggest change being a reduction in workload for the top players between the first two majors of the years.

“From the Masters through PGA Championship in 2026 (a six-week stretch), there were two majors and three Signature events, a significant time crunch for the top players on tour,” Carpenter wrote.

“The new schedule in 2027 around the Florida Swing will scale that back, though there still will be three Signature events, as well as the Players Championship, over a five-week stretch.”

This year that condensed run around The Masters and the PGA Championship led to the likes of Rory McIlroy skipping multiple of the US$20 million signature events.

That is a scenario the PGA Tour are keen to avoid going forward.