“Said things that weren’t helpful” – The most sensitive personality in world golf

Bryson DeChambeau apparently doesn't regret his move to LIV Golf and the millions from Saudi Arabia that came with it. The American left it open as to what would happen next for him. He simply announced that he wanted to approach his future with “humility and respect for golf.”

DeChambeau spoke publicly for the first time on Sunday after LIV finally abandoned its plans to restart the league on Thursday, making it history. DeChambeau was considered the most prominent supporter of such a “LIV 2.0”, which would have made bankruptcy proceedings possible. But as it is, the two-time US Open winner, who is said to have made around $125 million for his LIV change, is becoming the most sensitive personality in world golf and has the short end of the stick.

“I will not reinterpret the past four years,” DeChambeau wrote on social media: “I made a decision that I was confident in. And I am grateful for what it allowed me to do: play in front of new and long-time fans around the world who previously rarely had the opportunity to see the best players in their countries.”

DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, both two-time major winners, were the two biggest names in the competitive series, which is no longer supported by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund PIF. He is said to have invested seven billion dollars in the golf league before it was decided to end.

A bankruptcy court in New Jersey has since approved the termination of Rahm's contract with LIV. The Spaniard won the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday and returned to the top ten in the world rankings. Rahm said he has not yet spoken to the PGA Tour about a possible return. For now, he is basing his plans for 2027 on the European Tour, on which he has resumed.

The PGA Tour bans former LIV players for one year from their last appearance in the series. In the case of DeChambeau, a return is likely to be more complicated, as he was one of the players who filed an antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour.

After the framework agreement between the PGA Tour, European Tour and PIF in June 2023, DeChambeau also stated in an interview with CNN: "From my point of view, it is bitter that the players on the PGA Tour are not necessarily among the winners. I hope that a way can be found so that they are valued as much as we are at LIV."

In his current statement, DeChambeau struck a much more conciliatory tone. "Arnold Palmer has said that no player is bigger than the sport. And I want to acknowledge that I have said some things along the way that have not been helpful," he wrote: "Whatever comes next, I will approach it with humility and respect for the people who shaped this sport long before me."

DeChambeau is next entered at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, which will be held in Johannesburg from December 3rd to 6th. He must have received an invitation from the organizer. This will be only his third tournament outside of LIV and the majors since his departure from the PGA Tour in June 2022. DeChambeau: “Whatever comes next, I will approach it the right way.”