Bryson DeChambeau has spoken about the impact of LIV Golf and the Saudi Golf League after Jon Rahm was rumoured to be regretting his decision to leave the PGA Tour
Bryson DeChambeau has sung praises for the “beautiful” LIV Golf, claiming it has revolutionised the sport amid rumours that Jon Rahm regrets his $500 million switch to the controversial league – comments that will be music to the ears of league commissioner Greg Norman.
The power-hitting American, a key figure in the Saudi-funded series, lauded its impact since its inception two years ago, saying it has introduced a fresh “vision” and something “special” to golf.
Despite a Golf Digest report suggesting Rahm would give his money back to return to the PGA Tour if given another chance, both Rahm and LIV commissioner Greg Norman have dismissed such claims. DeChambeau, who is also the captain and part-owner of the Crushers team, is convinced there’s no better place to tee off than on the LIV circuit, now or in the future.
Speaking at a press event promoting next month’s Team Championship, DeChambeau expressed his belief in the transformative effect of LIV Golf: “I think that we have changed the vision of the game of golf,” he stated. “I think there is so much [more] opportunity now moving forward than there previously was. Golf, in my opinion, was a bit stagnant. I feel like there were times when we could have done more. There was more to be done, and things weren’t necessarily done in the way that some of the players thought they could have been done.
“What I mean by that is LIV came around and we all saw this opportunity of team golf and being partial owners of teams and creating business value and creating value across the world, not only just from a business perspective but an opportunity to grow the game globally.
“That was a big decision for me to be a part of something like that where we could reach different parts of the world, whether it’s Singapore, Hong Kong, hopefully India at some point. Anirban [Lahiri] is a big component of our team, and he wants to do something special there.
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“What we can do with building academies, creating driving ranges, education centers, there’s just so much we can do when we bring people together and players together to help grow this great game globally.”
DeChambeau believes LIV’s team element is what sets it apart from the competition, particularly with some of the teams being affiliated with countries or regions. He explained: “What I think is so special and different about LIV is that you’re not just competing for yourself but you’re competing for a team. With some teams, it’s their country. You’ve got the Rippers and Australia. You’ve got the Stingers and South Africa. It means so much more.”
“I think that’s what’s so beautiful about it is you’re representing not only yourself but sometimes a country, as well, or a region. So I think it’s beautiful.”
