Bryson DeChambeau is never shy about sharing his thoughts and opinions.
Since his days as an amateur, DeChambeau has shared the nuances of his swing and why he uses certain clubs. He has also explained his strict fitness and diet regimens.
But he believes he can do much more. DeChambeau continues to use his platform and pedigree as a two-time U.S. Open champion to help grow the game of golf across all spectrums of life. Look no further than his YouTube page, where Donald Trump and John Daly recently appeared as guests.
So, this week, while in Dallas promoting LIV Golf’s team championship next month, Dechambeau sat down with Art Stricklin of Golf.com for a wide-ranging Q&A.
Within that interview, DeChambeau offered insight into his YouTube success, Phil Mickelson’s short game, and the rise of LIV Golf. But he also fielded a question about what he would do if he became the commissioner of LIV Golf for a day.
“Wow, good question,” DeChambeau said to Stricklin.
“I think I would pick up the phone and call the PGA Tour and say, ‘We need to have a meeting and get an [agreement between the two tours] worked out now.’”
Of course, the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)—LIV Golf’s beneficiary—struck a framework agreement on Jun. 6, 2023. That deal essentially dropped all lawsuits while setting the path toward a more formal agreement between the two rival circuits. The two sides set a deadline of Dec. 31, 2023, to establish a nuanced deal, but that date has come and gone without concrete progress.
Tiger Woods and other PGA Tour board members have met with members of the PIF on a couple of occasions: once in March after The Players in the Bahamas and another in New York in June. The sound of crickets has percolated through the air since—at least to the public’s knowledge. Yet, PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan did provide an update—without really giving an update—ahead of last week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.
“I have a lot of meetings on the subject,” Monahan said.
“I’m not going to get into specifics of it, but it’s a clear focus of mine and it’s a clear focus of the organization. With that said, you can imagine that there is a lot of dialogue.”
Take that for what you will.
But DeChambeau’s first call would be to Monahan himself.
Yet, the reigning U.S. Open champion is remaining patient as golf remains divided at the top of the men’s game.
“The game is in an interesting place right now. It’s going to get figured out. I know that,” Dechambeau said.
“I have zero doubt that it will get figured out. It’s going to take some time. But I know that every single person on LIV does want to play in major championships and wants to compete at the highest level all the time with everyone as much as possible out there in those majors.”
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
