Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed are expected to join LIV Golf, according to multiple reports.
The Telegraph broke the news Wednesday morning, stating an announcement from LIV Golf was imminent, while SI/Morning Read reports the two American players will join the circuit for its U.S. based events. Following this week’s inaugural event in London, LIV Golf’s next competition is in Portland, starting July 1.
DeChambeau and Reed have been long linked to the Saudi-backed golf league; Reed has been a frequent competitor at the Saudi International and DeChambeau reportedly received a nine-figure payday to jump from the PGA Tour. DeChambeau had denied these rumors multiple times and as recently as six days ago at the Memorial.
“Me, there’s obviously a lot of conversation,” DeChambeau said. “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.”
DeChambeau and Reed give LIV Golf two more major winners to its roster, Reed winning the 2017 Masters and DeChambeau capturing the 2020 U.S. Open. However, both are considered two of the more divisive players in golf and have struggled mightily in 2022. Reed has just two top 10s in 19 starts this season while DeChambeau—who has battled a number of injuries—is 219th in the FedEx Cup standings.
Still, the two are also the rare LIV Golf individuals who are under 40 and still in the prime of their careers. They join Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson as the most prominent names with the fledgling series.
“Bryson has always been an innovator,” DeChambeau’s agent Brett Falkoff wrote to multiple outlets. “Having the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of something unique has always been intriguing to him. Professional golf as we know it is changing and it’s happening quickly.”
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has promised that any tour member who competes in an event on the rival league would face suspension from the PGA Tour and possibly a lifetime ban. The tour denied conflicting-event releases to all tour members who requested to compete in the London event.
Both Reed and DeChambeau are expected to play at next week’s U.S. Open at the Country Club in Brookline, Mass. The USGA ruled on Tuesday that those associated with LIV Golf will be able to play in the year’s third major.