Brandel Chamblee makes U-turn on PGA Tour-LIV Golf deal

Brandel Chamblee admits he has changed his mind on the PGA Tour’s prospective deal with the Saudi Arabian backers of the LIV Golf League.

Chamblee has been one of the most vehement critics of Saudi Arabia’s disruptive emergence in the men’s professional game, lamenting “one of the saddest days” in the sport when a ‘framework agreement’ was reached between the Kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF) and the PGA Tour last June.

The former PGA Tour player turned Golf Channel analyst has long railed against the threat of Greg Norman’s LIV start-up, funded entirely by PIF, which has coaxed some of the most high-profile players from his old domain.

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Now, however, Chamblee agrees with Rory McIlroy’s assertion that a deal must be struck between the PGA Tour and PIF to end the division in the sport.

McIlroy was denied the chance to return to the PGA Tour’s Policy Board, but will still have a role in the discussions as part of a “Transcation Subcommittee” which was confirmed on Thursday.

Like McIlroy, Chamblee also believes a resolution between the warring factions is essential to protect the US-based circuit.

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“The PGA Tour is in this pickle like it or not, but, do you want to compete with someone who’s not gonna go away (LIV), who can outspend you (PIF),” Chamblee said.

“Every move they make that makes their Tour better deletes your Tour and causes more division within the Tour. So the time is now, to Rory’s point about making a deal, I wouldn’t have said that a year ago… but it is the better end of the bargain.”

Chamblee, meanwhile, was confirmed this week as one of NBC’s lead analysts for next month’s US Open at Pinehurst.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.