Bryson DeChambeau has shared his concern about the future of LIV Golf, admitting that the breakaway tour has “a lot against us”.
The league’s future is in an uncertain position after the Saudi Public Investment Fund announced it will withdraw its financial backing at the end of the current campaign.
LIV confirmed it has found an unnamed investor for “the next chapter” of the tour, but speculation about where the competition stands continues to grow, with its players linked with moves away.
DeChambeau, who has been the poster boy for LIV Golf since its inception, gave a very honest interview in Indianapolis, where LIV are having its final tournament of the year.
The American said: “Look, it’s tough – it’s not easy. We [LIV Golf] definitely have a lot against us.
“I think, behind the scenes, we’ve got a lot of people that are working hard to make this possible for not only all the players that are out here, but all the fans that have come out to these events.
“The economic impact that we’ve made in all of these places, whether it’s South Africa, here in Indianapolis or Australia and numerous places across the world, the UK and all the different places we’ve been in the US.
“I think we just have a bit of a responsibility to continue to show this. If it works, it works, and that’s awesome. If it doesn’t, we’ll figure things out and time will move on.
Bryson DeChambeau spoke honestly about the future of LIV Golf
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GETTY“I would say that time heals things. I hope people can see that we actually bring value to the game of golf. My wish is that people give us one more shot and be open-minded.”
LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil insists he is still optimistic about the league’s future, but has issued a fresh warning of a “very compressed timeline” to finalise the investment.
The investor reportedly met with players at LIV Golf Indianapolis, with no golfers having pre-tournament press conferences.
O’Neil said: “It [LIV Golf] certainly was disruptive and at times divisive, and there’s no question that several years have been challenging for the game of golf.
Scott O’Neil is still optimistic about LIV’s future
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GETTY“I believe we’re at a really special inflexion point.
“This has been an extremely challenging several months for all of us. We didn’t sign up for this. We didn’t ask for this, but yet they’re here. My confidence level is high [for LIV Golf to survive] because the facts are good.
“We have work to do. We have things we have to accomplish. There are hurdles we have to jump over.
“It’s a very complex transaction we’ll have to deliver. But man, I wouldn’t bet against us.”
LIV Golf’s future is in a very uncertain position
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GETTYO’Neil turned his focus to competing with rival tours and “bringing something distinctive” to the game.
He said: “It’s time to move forward – let’s once again put the game first. I spent time over the last several weeks speaking with many of the guardians and stewards of the game of golf, and I heard a real appetite to put the parochial friction of the past behind us.
“I want to be crystal clear: that’s what LIV Golf wants. The philosophy is simple. If you’ve been around me before, you’ve heard it: it’s complete, not compete. Golf doesn’t need one tour to win and everyone else to lose.
“We shouldn’t live in a world where one group of golfers is uniquely restricted from playing elsewhere. Our goal isn’t to replace or restrict any tour. Our mission is to bring something distinctive to the ecosystem that elevates it and makes the game better.”
