CNN –
American golfer Bryson DeChambeau told CNN that he “feels sorry” for PGA Tour players who, following Tuesday’s shocking reconciliation between the feuding Tours, failed to take the “risk” he took by joining the breakaway LIV Golf series had entered.
An announcement from the PGA Tour declared a partnership with Saudi Arabia-backed LIV Golf and the DP World Tour, reuniting the trio under a new commercial entity, to be named.
That should put an end to years of bitter public and legal wrangling between the various tours, a conflict DeChambeau quickly found himself at the center of after becoming one of the first golfers to join the breakaway streak in June 2022.
An eight-time PGA Tour winner and 2020 US Open champion, DeChambeau’s move was a major coup for LIV Golf. Funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), the series promised to award a total prize pool of US$250 million, with US$20 million guaranteed to be split between each player in each of the first seven events.
However, many of the game’s biggest stars stayed with it, and some became outspoken critics of LIV Golf. Chief among them were Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. According to LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, the latter allegedly turned down an offer of $700-800 million to join the breakaway series.
Speaking to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, DeChambeau said “decent information” offered to him and other players persuaded him to make the move.
“The players who walked over it, we took a risk, and there was a reason to take that risk relative to the capital that had to be paid to do it,” DeChambeau said on CNN’s primetime show Tuesday.
“I feel sorry for the PGA Tour players because they were told one thing and something else happened. We were told one thing from our side and it has borne fruit.
“Ultimately, I want the players, the fans, and the game of golf to win, and from my point of view it stinks a little that PGA Tour players don’t necessarily win. I hope they can find a way to make sure they are valued in the same way that we are at LIV, and I think that will happen. It will just take time for players to hold back a little and try to figure out what gives them the best chance of being successful on their own.
“Eventually now we all get back together and play as a group – I think that’s the best thing, seeing us play week after week, the best players against each other.”
Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images
DeChambeau in daytime action at the LIV Golf Invitational – Singapore at Sentosa Golf Club in April.
The negative reaction from PGA Tour golfers formed only part of the criticism of LIV Golf and its players following the start of the new tour.
A particular point of contention was the source of the series’ funding, Saudi Arabia’s PIF. DeChambeau and other players have been criticized for choosing to compete for money from the Middle Eastern country given his human rights record.
Saudi Arabia has been criticized by human rights groups for years. In March last year, just months before LIV Golf’s first event, the country executed 81 men in the largest mass execution in decades. In particular, it has condemned the execution of persons who were minors at the time of the offenses for which they were convicted.
The PIF is a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia and the man a US intelligence report has named as responsible for authorizing the operation that led to the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bin Salman has denied any involvement in the assassination of Khashoggi.
When asked by Collins about the criticism of Saudi Arabia, DeChambeau said what happened was “regrettable.”
“That’s something I can’t necessarily talk about since I’m a golfer, but what they’re trying to do — what they want to work on — is to be better allies because we’re allies with them,” DeChambeau continued.
“I’m not going to delve into politics, I’m not specialized in that, but I can say they’re trying to do good for the world and present themselves in a light that hasn’t been seen before in a while.” .
“No one is perfect, but we all try to improve our lives.”
02:44 – Source: CNN
Bryson DeChambeau’s unique approach to golf
News of the partnership sparked outrage from groups representing families and survivors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Allegations of complicity by the Saudi government in the attacks have long been controversial in Washington. Fifteen of the 19 al Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four planes were Saudi nationals, but the Saudi government has denied any involvement.
The Congressional 9/11 Commission stated in 2004 that it “found no evidence that the Saudi government as an institution or senior Saudi officials individually funded al-Qaeda.”
A statement released by 9/11 Families United said the group was “shocked and deeply offended” by the new partnership. Brett Eagleson, president of the 9/11 Justice group, said she “riddled the families’ stomachs.”
Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/Getty Images
DeChambeau is watching the PGA Championship in May.
DeChambeau reiterated his previous stance, saying it’s time to “begin trying to work together … toward peace and forgiveness.”
“Well, I think we’re never going to get back at the families for what happened exactly a little over 20 years ago, and what happened is definitely horrifying,” DeChambeau said.
“I don’t know exactly what they’re feeling — I can never know what they’re feeling — but I have a lot of respect for their position and what they believe in, and I don’t want anything like that to ever happen again.”
“I think that’s what they’re trying to achieve, LIV is trying to achieve, what PIF is trying to achieve: a better world for everyone and a way to provide better entertainment for everyone around the world.”