Brandel Chamblee Takes More Shots at LIV Golf

While the criticism of LIV Golf from Rory McIlroy and other PGA Tour players has softened in recent months, one name in the game of golf is keeping his foot on the gas pedal: Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.

Appearing on the No Laying Up podcast, Chamblee took several shots at the circuit, which is currently in its third year of play.

Chamblee said:

“Set aside where the money comes from – which is devious and demented – but let’s just look at the competition, it’s laughable.”

Hell yeah brother. Let’s go! @chambleebrandel pic.twitter.com/l9LV4JvHAj

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) June 4, 2024

He explained how players are sacrificing their own scores in order to improve the team concept:

“The individual competition is not as important as the team competition, so you come to the last hole, and you need a birdie to win the individual and a par to win the team, are you really trying to make a birdie? If you take the risk and the team loses, there’s hell to pay, so it’s an insult to the integrity of competition.”

While his views on LIV may not be shared by as many competitors now, one thing he did say is something nearly everyone will agree with

“Do I miss those [players who joined LIV]? Hell yeah, I miss seeing Jon Rahm play, I miss Bryson DeChambeau, I miss watching Brooks Koepka. You get to see them at majors, but I’m pissed that they are gone.”

While negotiations between PGA Tour Enterprises and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund continue, it’s starting to appear that LIV won’t be going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Just this week, McIlroy said that the circuit is prepared for the long term.

McIlroy said via Sports Illustrated:

“They’re buying office space in New York. They have over 200 employees. I don’t see a world where—and I haven’t heard any of those guys say that they don’t want to play over there either, right? You’ve got guys who are on contracts until 2028, 2029. Looking a few years down the line, LIV is going to continue to sort of keep going down its path. But hopefully with maybe more of a collaboration or an understanding between the tours. Maybe there is some cross-pollenation there where players can start to play on both. I guess that will all be talked about in the coming weeks.”

McIlroy said that reps from the PGA Tour and PIF have been meeting as much as three times a week and will be meeting in person Friday afternoon in New York. As we reported on Thursday, we just passed the one-year mark after the sides entered into the framework agreement.

Cover Image via Golf Magazine