DeChambeau’s Water-Bottle Throw Coincides with LIV Golf’s New Investor Deal

During the first round of the LIV Golf New York event at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, two-time U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau posted a 5-over 76, tying for 47th place. He opened with a double bogey, added bogeys on holes 2 and 4, and was 4 over through the first four holes. On the fifth tee cameras captured DeChambeau angrily slamming a water bottle toward a trash can; the bottle missed the target. After a brief stretch of pars and a birdie on the 11th, additional bogeys on holes 15 and 16 left him 12 shots behind first-round leader Joaquin Niemann and placed his season-long chase of Jon Rahm in jeopardy.

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Hours after DeChambeau’s round, LIV Golf disclosed that it had signed a term sheet with an unnamed lead investor that will fund the league through at least 2030. CEO Scott O’Neil said the agreement has board approval and will anchor the league’s “next era,” with interest from more than a dozen additional parties for minority stakes. The deal is intended to create a multi-partner model that gives players majority equity and aims to secure the tour’s long-term stability.

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DeChambeau’s contract expires at the end of the season, and reports indicate Rahm is still owed up to $150 million. Their decisions to stay or depart could significantly affect LIV Golf’s relevance, especially as the league navigates the transition to player-majority ownership and the new financing structure.

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• “We’re very fortunate that a lead investor has signed a term sheet approved by our board, which will carry and fund LIV going forward,” — Scott O’Neil, the way CEO

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• “I have all the time in the world for Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau,” — Scott O’Neil, the way CEO

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