When the Saudi Public Investment Fund pulled funding for LIV Golf, Bryson DeChambeau was thrown into golfing limbo.
He’s out of contract with LIV at the end of this season and has been exploring a multitude of options over the last few months. DeChambeau could play on LIV Golf, the PGA Tour, or be a full-time content creator by this time next year.
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According to LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil, DeChambeau remains committed to making LIV Golf work, and as the face of the league, the two-time US Open winner has played a key role in pitching LIV to potential investors.
But DeChambeau did admit to being shocked about how everything has unfolded on LIV recently.
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
Bryson DeChambeau admits to being ‘surprised’ that LIV Golf lost Saudi funding
DeChambeau has done a solid job of avoiding the media since the Saudis pulled funding from LIV. He didn’t speak to the media at all during the week of the PGA Championship, where he missed the cut on Friday, and he didn’t do a press conference at LIV Virginia, only speaking in short post-round TV interviews.
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But now LIV Golf has left the States for Hong Kong, DeChambeau sat down for a press conference and was asked what his initial reaction was when LIV Golf lost its Saudi funding.
He answered, “We were surprised that they pulled out as quickly as they did. We didn’t really see that coming. But that’s okay. One door closes, another opens. I think that’s the way a lot of us are looking at it.
“I think we all have optimism that there is a business plan that makes sense for team golf. I’d quite honestly actually — how do I say it? I’m very optimistic with the business plan of team golf compared to other models, in my opinion.
“But again, other models have worked, as well, so I’m not going to say that one is better than the other, but I do see value in what team golf can provide not only worldwide grassroots rooting the game of golf. National support, team national support, city local support, we grassroot ourselves there.
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“There’s a couple ideas that we have — quite a few ideas that we have that could be interesting.
We’ll see if investors like it or not. I’m giving all I can to make it happen, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t happen.”
It sounds like DeChambeau is at the forefront of LIV Golf’s pitch to investors, which is a positive sign for anyone hoping he stays on the tour. The bad news is that he didn’t sound too optimistic that there would even be a league next season.
Bryson DeChambeau says how he plans to overcome LIV Golf’s potential collapse
Having this going on in the background is bound to take a mental toll on all of LIV Golf’s players, especially for DeChambeau, who has put so much reputational stock into this league.
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He was asked how he’s processing LIV’s potential collapse, and he plans to overcome it. DeChambeau’s answer was simple: play golf.
The 32-year-old said, “I go out there on the first tee on Thursday and hit a beautiful drive down the middle of the fairway, hopefully.
“That’s what we’re focused on. In the background, yeah, we’re trying to help where we can, but ultimately it’s up to executives and everybody banding together. If we all band together, there’s an opportunity here. If not, it’s going to be a different day for all of us.
“But for me, how I support, go out and hit a great drive on the first tee, play a great round of golf, sign autographs after, and have a good time.”
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With everything going on in the background, it must be refreshing for DeChambeau to finally get out on the course when his events tee off. He’ll hope to put his missed cut at Aronimink behind him in Hong Kong.
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