Bryson DeChambeau: American running out of options after LIV Golf collapse, says Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy believes Bryson DeChambeau would be a welcome addition to the DP World Tour as he suggested the American is running out of options following the collapse of LIV Golf. The future of two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, 33, remains uncertain after LIV Golf announced last week it is winding down operations. DeChambeau can apply for DP World Tour membership based on his status as a recent major champion, and that may offer him a route to regaining his PGA Tour card for 2028. DeChambeau's competitive future is uncertain following the collapse, with the American last week saying he will approach his next move with "humility and respect" and noting he is "not going to rewrite last four years".

McIlroy, who is preparing for the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, last week backed claims that LIV Golf had sought to "destroy the European Tour". Speaking to reporters in Dubai before the tournament, McIlroy stated that DeChambeau would bring more eyeballs to the tour. "I think a name like Bryson DeChambeau and everything he brings with him, good and bad, he brings eyeballs, which is a good thing for tournaments," said McIlroy, who was pipped to the 2024 US Open title by DeChambeau. McIlroy added, "Honestly, I'm certainly not in his shoes, and nor would I ever want to be, but it doesn't seem like he's got many options if he wants to play competitive golf."

Northern Ireland's McIlroy is bidding for an eighth Race to Dubai title and a fifth in succession. Another Race to Dubai crown would draw him level with Colin Montgomerie, who won the European Tour's Order of Merit eight times, including seven consecutive titles between 1993 and 1999 before adding an eighth in 2005. The world number two trails Spain's Eugenio Chacarra by 533.93 points going into the final tournament of the season at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with 2,000 points available to the winner. Nine players—Chacarra, McIlroy, Patrick Reed, Casey Jarvis, Aaron Rai, Jon Rahm, Ryan Fox, Jayden Schaper and Daniel Hillier—can still clinch the Race to Dubai title, but McIlroy would guarantee his fifth straight crown with victory this week.

"I'm very excited to be back here, very excited to be in contention for the eighth," the 37-year-old told reporters on Tuesday. "I made some ground up last week, maybe not as much as I wanted, but I felt like it was a step in the right direction." McIlroy also expressed pride in the consistency and longevity he has maintained throughout his career. "I think this will be the 15th or 16th year in a row that I will have finished the year in the top 10 in the world rankings," he said. "I'm very proud of that. I think that's maybe an underrated part of careers, is that longevity piece."