On Tuesday night, LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau appeared on CNN for a five minute and 20 second interview with Kaitlin Collins.
It led to plenty of golf fans and even a PGA Tour player torching DeChambeau on social media.
He has never been one to mince words about his thoughts or feelings when it comes to the sport. He has often thought outside of the box and has been willing to take risks or do unorthodox things.
However, in his CNN interview, sporting his LIV Golf Crushers team gear, DeChambeau defended Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Bryson DeChambeau, an early recruit to the Saudi-backed LIV tour, on the PGA merger shocker and criticism from the families of 9/11 victims: pic.twitter.com/i1R6AWjw1Z
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) June 7, 2023
“There’s a lot more behind closed doors that’s been going on. What I can tell you is that H-E, Yasir, has always been a staunch supporter of golf globally, and wanting to grow the game,” DeChambeau said.
“H.E.” stands for “His Excellency.”
“I think this is the best thing that could ever happen to the game of golf,” DeChambeau said. “The fans are going to get what they want, the players are going to experience something a little different, a little new, but I truly believe the game of golf wins.
“I do feel bad for the PGA Tour players because they were told one thing and something else happened, and our side, we were told one thing and it’s come to fruition. It does stink a little bit from my perspective that the PGA Tour players are not necessarily winning. I hope they can find a way to make sure that they are valued in the same way that we are over at LIV. I think that’ll happen, it’s just going to take some time with the players pushing back a little bit and trying to figure out what gives them the best opportunity to be successful.”
Collins then asked DeChambeau about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and he at first said the families of 9/11 victims wouldn’t be able to be paid back for what happened but added that it was 20 years ago and “we’re in a place now where it time to work together to make things better as a whole.”
Then Collins asked whether DeChambeau was uncomfortable considering the Saudis are accused of financing terrorism and killing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“I mean, look, it’s unfortunate what has happened but that is not something I can speak on because I’m a golfer,” DeChambeau said. “What I can say is that, what they’re trying to do, what they’re trying to work on, is be better allies, because we are allied with them. I’m not going to get into the politics of it, I’m not specialized in that. But what I can say is they’re trying to do good for the world and showcase themselves in a light that hasn’t been seen in a while. Nobody is perfect, but we’re all trying to improve in life.”
Golf Twitter then got a hold of the video and it had a field day.
From a PGA Tour player
Bryson loves the spotlight so much he doesn’t get how cringe all of this looks. https://t.co/kRADoQ6Mw9
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) June 7, 2023
Rough apology
I did not have “Bryson stumbles through an apology for 9/11” on my bingo card in all this, but I think that was perhaps a failure if imagination on my part. https://t.co/9Ev1Xx8BR1
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) June 7, 2023
Yikes
.@kaitlancollins: The Saudis are accused of financing terrorism, killing Khashoggi, does that make you uncomfortable? @b_dechambeau: "Nobody's perfect" https://t.co/rxaYcYuhXF
— Jordan Fabian (@Jordanfabian) June 7, 2023
Content
To whoever signed Bryson up for this stage… we thank you for the content.
That was certainly a decision! https://t.co/pyuXtcMnoD
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) June 7, 2023
'Nobody is perfect'
Collins asks him about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi at the end.
"They're trying to do good for the world and showcase themselves in a light that hasn't been seen in a while. Nobody's perfect but we're all trying to improve in life." https://t.co/ZpuCOe54yl
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) June 7, 2023
What did he say?
He said he doesn't want another 9/11 to happen, which you always love to hear yourself say in a live TV interview https://t.co/6iRRvRYZG6
— CJ Ciaramella (@cjciaramella) June 7, 2023
Geopolitics
Not the first guy I’d put out there to talk about geopolitics but what do I know https://t.co/LuMCdir4f9
— Matthew Zeitlin (@MattZeitlin) June 7, 2023
Korn Ferry Tour
The thing that could make me OK with the merger is if this guy is forced to re-earn his tour card by grinding it out on the Korn Ferry for a while. Just him. https://t.co/fntABSMrHj
— Alex Kirshner (@alex_kirshner) June 7, 2023
Pathway to peace
We are on a pathway to peace. And that pathway begins with paying me $125 million. Bryson is an imbecile. https://t.co/y7YvF6hXsH
— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) June 7, 2023
Not a friend
There’s a reason nobody on tour likes DeChambeau. https://t.co/Ewh4xG0O9R
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) June 7, 2023
