Bryson DeChambeau claims he ‘personally knows’ the PGA Tour will reverse its indefinite ban on players joining the controversial Saudi-back LIV Golf series – and believes a resolution will be found ‘pretty shortly’.
Speaking to Tucker Carlson on Fox News, ‘The Scientist’ gave a confident response when asked if he was worried about his life ban from the PGA Tour after turning his back to cash in on the Saudi millions – $125m, to be exact.
‘It doesn’t make sense (the ban). No, I’m not worried about that,’ DeChambeau, the 2020 US Open winner, said. ‘I think it will get figured out.
‘I personally know that it will get figured out, whether it’s legally or whether they come to the table and work out terms. I definitely think it will wash itself out in the future, pretty shortly.’
Referring to himself as ‘a bit of a trendsetter’, DeChambeau pedaled the same line to Tucker about ‘growing the game’ that many of his LIV Golf peers have spoken about.
‘First and foremost, it is a lot of opportunity to do something different in the game of golf,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘I’ve always been a bit of a trendsetter. Growing up I always thought I’d do something cool in the game of golf.
Bryson DeChambeau ‘personally knows’ the PGA Tour will resolve is LIV Golf standoff
DeChambeau, pictured in last week’s LIV event, took $125m to join the Saudi-backed series
DeChambeau won the US Open in 2020 and says joining LIV helps him to grow the game
‘I’ve always thought golf has to tailor to the younger generation and I am all about growing the game of golf. I think that in every industry, no matter what it is, it has always been changing and innovating and golf isn’t any different. New formats and teams are enhancing the spirit of the game.’
But there is only so long any LIV Golf player can talk about the series before discussing the vast sums of money on offer just to turn up. DeChambeau is no different to the rest in that regard.
‘Solely for the economics, it was a no-brainer,’ Dechambeau said of his decision to join. ‘It just becomes a hobby (if you play for free).
‘This is our livelihood and it was a great economic opportunity for golfers to make a lot of money.
‘That’s why we grew up playing golf – also for the history, to go and win majors, PGA Tour events and now I want to win LIV events.
‘You can see the passion and competitive aspect of this environment out here and we all want to win every single week.’
The 28-year-old DeChambeau admitted that the money on offer made joining a ‘no-brainer’
He said he’ll use the money to build a multi-sport and education complex in Dallas
DeChambeau said that with the money he gets from his LIV Golf exploits, he will build a multi-sport and education complex center in Dallas.
‘With the resources I now have, it doesn’t mean I’m able to sit on my butt and do nothing,’ he said. ‘At a certain point in time you realize there’s more to life than golf and that’s what LIV Golf allows me to do.’
DeChambeau played alongside Donald Trump last week, with the most recent LIV event held at his Bedminster course.
‘He’s actually a really good golfer. He stripes it down the middle of the fairway and has a good iron game and putts it pretty well,’ DeChambeau said at the time. ‘But it was an honour. I mean, anytime you get to play with a president, whether passed or sitting, it’s just an honor, no matter who it is.
‘Very lucky to have a relationship with him, and he’s always been generous to me.’
But one relationship that has been dented is that with Tiger Woods.
Greg Norman, the LIV Golf commissioner, told Tucker on Monday that Woods rejected an offer between $700m and $800m to join the breakaway series.
DeChambeau played a round with President Trump last week, who hosted the LIV event
But DeChambeau says Tiger Woods has not spoken to him since he left the PGA Tour
And speaking to Sports Illustrated in late July, DeChambeau said he had not spoken to Woods since making the LIV move.
‘I have ultimate respect for what he has to say. For me personally, to be my own human being, I’m going to work even harder to prove the fact that I’m worth the price,’ he said.
‘We have been fairly close and unfortunately we have not spoken, one day we will again, and I am always open for a conversation with anybody.
‘I have no problem with it and I hope we can come see eye to eye on it.’
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