SUGAR GROVE, Ill. — Bryson deChambeauInsisted that he has no regrets in his decision to switch from the PGA Tour to Saudi-funded LIV Golf Series.
He said, I couldn’t feel happier to be over there, I have no buyer’s regret.
The 2020 U.S. Open champion said it was the most important decision he made, other than choosing his agent. He also stated that he has the ultimate regard for the PGA Tours opportunities and that he has the ultimate respect.
Thursdays DeChambeau speech was at Rich Harvest Farms in suburban Chicago. Rich Harvest Farms are best known for hosting in 2009 the Solheim Cup. This is where the fifth LIV Golf event will be held and fourth on U.S. soil.
He is part of a field consisting of 48. Dustin Johnson, Phil MickelsonAnd Sergio Garcia. Twelve teams of four players will compete for points, prize money and a stroke-play format 54-hole format with no cut and shotgun begins. The purse is $25,000,000, with $4 million going directly to the individual winner and $3,000,000 to the winning team.
DeChambeau said, What LIV Golf provides is something new, unique, different and with that being said, theres going be some disruption, people wont love it, and I respect each person that doesnt think that its good to the game of golf. I understand, but I hope they are open to it. You might even see something quite cool if you give them a chance.
The controversy surrounding the breakaway series continues to be a source.
DeChambeau and Mickelson are among several players and LIV Golf involved in an antitrust suit against the PGA Tour. They claim that it has used monopoly to try to squash competition, and has unfairly suspended player. LIV events were held by players who had not resigned their PGA Tour memberships. Most of those suspensions were through March 2024.
The funding source is also a concern, given Saudi Arabias human-rights record. Critics claim that the players are basically taking blood money.
Dick Durbin (a Democrat from Illinois) is one of them. The Majority Whip, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, tweeted Thursday that he was not happy with the event taking place in Illinois.
Durbin wrote, This weekend, a glove will try to cover a stained hand as the LIV Golf Tournament comes to Chicago in Saudi governments continued and desperate attempt to clean its image.
The players tried to avoid politics while keeping the focus on golf.
Everybody is entitled to their opinion, Anirban Lahiri said. I have mine. But I don’t believe it’s relevant. My golf is important. The actions we take for the community are important. All of these are visible and people should see them. Because there is so much good happening, but nobody is talking about it, thats what people should be focusing on.
Joaquin NiemannHe is currently playing in his second LIV event and sees the series as helping to grow the sport in a positive way by doing this team format.
He said, Its becoming so exciting. I love it.
DeChambeau hopes LIV Golf and PGA Tour can one day be combined to allow players to play on both tours. He stressed that his goal is not overtaking the PGA Tour.
DeChambeau would be thrilled to compete in the Presidents Cup at Quail hollow in Charlotte, North Carolina next weekend. He made the jump but it wont happen because he did it.
He stated that he believes the team events are hurting themselves by not allowing them to play and not allowing them to qualify through some capacity in some aspect.
Instead, hell be watching from afar as the Presidents Cup is played.
DeChambeau declared, Im first and foremost a golf fan. I will watch golf wherever it is played with the best players in the world, regardless of who they are. I expect that the future will be different. This will be something very special. I believe it will even be more special than it is now. As I move forward, I will still be watching other tournaments that have been won and performed well at.