Brad Faxon: Bryson DeChambeau Masters win would be ‘best thing for golf’

Rory McIlroy’s coach has argued that golf would benefit from Bryson DeChambeau winning the Masters.

Brad Faxon, an analyst on NBC Sports, claimed the result would be the ‘best thing’ for golf, as the game has ‘lost’ its villains and players to ‘root against’.

DeChambeau is one of 13 LIV golfers teeing it up at Augusta National this week, who Faxon says have “gone into witness protection” and ‘get out on probation four times a year’.

“The best thing for the game of golf right now would be for Bryson DeChambeau to win The Masters,” Faxon said on Live from the Masters.

Whilst Scottie Scheffler takes a lead into the final round of the 88th Masters, DeChambeau is the closest LIV golfer to make a challenge.

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And after playing “all over the world with almost nobody watching”, Faxon says DeChambeau is leading LIV Golf’s “coming out party”.

“He has a putter that nobody has ever used before,” said Faxon. “He bulked up three or four years ago to try and hit it farther. He nearly drove the par 5 6th green at Bay Hill and won and won the U.S. Open with at Winged Foot with a strategy never seen before.

“Now, he has a set of irons that were illegal on Monday and are legal now and he is four shots back with a chance to win.”

So, why is this the best thing for golf if he wins, asked Faxon. Well, allow the 62-year-old to make the case.

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“We have this huge divide between the PGA Tour and LIV Tour, and these guys when they come from LIV, this is what they want,” he said.

“They want to play against the best players in the world. What we have lost is our villains. We have lost the guys that make us root against somebody.

“We have lost rivalries. We have the best player in the world in Scottie Scheffler and he needs help creating something to make him more popular. I have no doubt that Scottie can win, but the best thing for golf would be if Bryson wins.”

DeChambeau will tee off for his final round alongside Xander Schauffele at 7.15pm (BST), while Scheffler looks to fend off the chasing pack from 7.35pm, with Collin Morikawa for company.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.