Brandel Chamblee, the Golf Channel’s most outspoken commentator on the LIV Tour’s growing role in golf and the Saudi PIF’s involvement, was eagerly awaiting Brandel’s reaction to Tuesday’s announcement of the merger between the PGA Tour DP World Tour PIF.
He didn’t disappoint.
Chamblee stated, “I believe this is one the saddest moments in the history of golf.”
He said: “I believe that the governing bodies and professional entities have given up their principles in the name of profit.” “I then tried to imagine the circumstances that would have led to this capitulation,” he said.
“I believe that there were three factors that could have led to this situation: intractable legal issues that continued for an eternity… legal vulnerabilities on both sides, and only the lawyers concerned would have benefited.
“The entanglement between the PGA Tour’s various sponsors and business entities that include Saudi money or PIF money. The PGA Tour found it increasingly difficult to separate themselves from the scrutiny and criticism. “They were potentially leaving billions on the table to grow the game.”
Chamblee predicted that PGA Tour players would be “hugely depressed and let down” by the leadership, he said. Many of them learned about the deal through social media, or even after it was announced. “One of my initial thoughts was, I wonder what Tiger, Rory and other players who turned down tens and hundreds of millions of dollar and stood on principles and fought for PGA Tour or the betterment of PGA Tour did to deserve this. This will probably be a long and hard day for Jay Monahan.
Chamblee, LIV’s Phil Mickelson and other Twitter users have been engaged in a heated exchange. Chamblee, who was first to join LIV as a prominent member, was asked whether Mickelson viewed the announcement of the merger as vindication.
“I am sure that he is.” Today, I had a number of people ask me this question about Phil and myself. It’s not about Phil, or about me. Chamblee stated that it was about the future and growth of golf. “Will golf retain its integrity?” Will it still have the leadership that so many people cite as one of golf’s most inspiring features? It’s not just about Phil and me. This is about golf. The game is bigger than us.
Chamblee, when asked what question he would like to ask PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan about, couldn’t choose just one.
Is this going to bring disgrace to the sport?” Will it compromise the integrity of sport in the future? Chamblee asked, “How can you reconcile your involvement with an organization that is so heavily involved in philanthropy, charity, and philanthropistism, when the country that provides the money is one of the most antisemitic and misogynistic countries, with no freedom of speech or expression, and with no freedom of religion? They also try to silence, kill, or dismember media members who speak out against their government.” “Are these things going to be eliminated, improved, moving forward?” Not just money. I’ve said it before, they are trying to buy success for the West by pretending to be a surrogate. I believe that the West’s enormous success is due to the freedoms which are its foundation.
How far will they go to ease the problems that we have discussed that the West is having? By the way, is PIF interested in owning all professional golf?”
Rich Lerner, Chamblee’s GC colleague, asked him at the end of the conversation: What would you have to do to be able to continue doing what you love, which is to talk about golf, in good conscience?
Chamblee stated that “this deal must meet three criteria.” “The Tour’s philanthropic side must remain intact, the tournament integrity must remain intact, and the legacy left by past players must also be protected.” Chamblee said.
I continue to enjoy the game of Golf. I love my job. I enjoy my job. I analyze the game. For a long time, I’ve said that I want to talk about golf again, golf swings and competition, the game itself, not politics. “I don’t work at the PGA Tour, and I am looking forward to returning to the topic of golf rather than these political fragmented issues within the game.”
