Bridgestone Golf has decided to “amicably” drop Bryson DeChambeau from his role as brand ambassador after his move to LIV Golf.
The former major champion quit the PGA Tour last month to join the Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.
The American also took part in the LIV league’s second tournament, finishing in 10th place in a 48-man field and 11 shots back of the winner.
“The PGA Tour is an extremely important part of professional golf, and Bridgestone has a sports marketing relationship with this highly visible series of tournaments,” Bridgestone Golf said in a statement.
“In considering that Bryson DeChambeau will no longer be participating in these events, Bridgestone and Bryson have agreed to end their brand ambassador partnership.”
The announcement comes days before DeChambeau, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, tees off in the British Open at St Andrews seeking a second major triumph to go along with his 2020 U.S. Open victory.
Despite being banned by the PGA Tour, LIV golfers have gotten an exemption for participation in the golf majors.
DeChambeau joined Bridgestone, which has been a long-time tournament sponsor of the PGA Tour, ahead of his professional debut in April 2016 and one week after he finished as the low amateur at that year’s Masters.
DeChambeau had initially distanced himself from LIV Golf, saying only a week prior to the breakaway circuit announcing his arrival, that jumping ship at this stage of his career was too much of a risk.
DeChambeau is unlikely to miss monetary support from Bridgestone as his reported contract with LIV Golf will pay him 140 million dollars over 5 years on top of his winnings from the tournaments.
