Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka hope next week's 'showdown' with Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will mark the first step towards a PGA Tour vs LIV Golf Ryder Cup as early as next year.

DeChambeau and Koepka, two of the most high-profile defectors to the Saudi-backed tour, will take on McIlroy and Scheffler - the PGA Tour's most prized assets -in Las Vegas on December 17. 

'The Crypto.com Showdown' includes a prize pot of $10million worth of cryptocurrency. It is being billed as an unofficial LIV vs PGA Tour clash and there are plans to take these matches around the world over the coming years.

Earlier this week, reports claimed Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is nearing a deal to acquire a minority stake in PGA Tour Enterprises.

But talks over a possible merger between the rival tours have dragged on since a 'framework agreement' was announced in June 2023.

Both Koepka and DeChambeau want more opportunities to face the PGA Tour's biggest names - outside of the four major championships - and hope next week's clash will lead to bigger team events before long.

'The Showdown is a great showcase for bringing the two tours a bit together,' DeChambeau said. 

'I think what we're going to do next year, all of us aligned, is bring something a little bit bigger and badder... where we can see most of the best players from both sides competing more against each other.

Koepka added: 'Let's be real. Wouldn't you want to see a LIV vs. PGA tour, Ryder Cup-style thing? 

'This is this is what it is. This (can) grow into a big thing. And I think that's what would draw the fans.'

The Ryder Cup currently sees the best players in Europe face the best of the USA. Next week, Scheffler, the world No 1, and four-time major champion McIlroy will face Koepka - a five-time major winner - and the reigning US Open winner DeChambeau at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas.

But there are plans to take these matches across the world and bring in other players from both tours. 

'A Ryder Cup-style, LIV vs. PGA tour (match), that's something that really excites me from a business perspective,' DeChambeau said. 

'I think it's time for us two tours to have a battle of the best... if we can create something special for the future, something that's lasting and leaves a good impact in the game of golf. 

'That's what I hope comes from this event. That's certainly some of the thoughts we've talked about and want to create moving forward in the future.' 

When asked if these showcases – or a permanent merger – is the end goal, Koepka insisted: ‘It's anything I think we want it to be. That's the cool part. 

'I’d love for this to transcend into some type of Ryder Cup-feel vibe... that would obviously be incredible.'

He added: 'And the fans would tune in for that because… I feel like that could really bring everybody back together to watch golf.