Bryson DeChambeau calls for swift end to game’s civil war

Bryson DeChambeau says the game’s powerbrokers need to resolve the current civil war in the men’s pro game quickly or else risk alienating the sport’s fans.

The former US Open champion made the plea ahead of this week’s LIV Golf event in Miami.

A framework agreement to merge the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour have been on the table since June last year but after the original December 31 deadline came and went, a new deadline of before The Masters was set.

That tournament takes place next week and, with no agreement in sight, many – including former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley – have voiced their concerns over the likelihood of a deal any time soon.

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Asked for his take, DeChambeau said: “There’s multiple ways that you can solve this problem. I think that from a player’s perspective, it needs to come back together for the fans, number one.

“The fans are what drive this sport. If we don’t have fans, we don’t have golf. We are not up here entertaining. That’s the most important thing as of right now, the low-hanging fruit. There’s got to be a way to come together. How that comes together, that’s above all of us out here.”

He added: “We can give input. We can have little moments where we say, hey, we think this would be a good idea or that would be a good idea, but ultimately, it’s up to the guys up top to figure it out and figure it out quickly because we can’t keep going this direction.

“It’s not sustainable for sure, and we all respect that and recognise that and want the best for the game of golf. We all love this game and we want to keep playing it and we want to keep competing.

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“The only answer is for us to somehow come together in some sort of terms where it makes sense and for us to be playing all again in somewhat of the same boat.

“It’s great to have the majors where we come together, but we want to be competing – at least I want to be competing every week – with all of the best players in the world for sure.

“And it needs to happen fast. It’s not a two-year thing. Like it needs to happen quicker rather than later just for the good of the sport. Too many people are losing interest”

DeChambeau’s comments were echoed by fellow LIV man Joaquin Niemann.

“I feel like that you’ve got to do it for the fans and for everybody getting more entertainment,” said the in-form Chilean.

“The players, we are just here and we need to make birdies to make everything better. It’s up to other people to come into an agreement and know what is going to be the best for the game and have all of those guys working into the same direction and not thinking against each other.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor