Rory McIlroy takes veiled shot at Bryson DeChambeau, LIV golfers

Bryson DeChambeau, left, has indicated that he would consider focusing on his YouTube channel should LIV fold. Richard Heathcote / Getty Images Share article4Bryson DeChambeau may not be sure what he wants to do if he does not re-sign with LIV Golf next season, but Rory McIlroy made it clear Friday what he thinks of the available options. “If you want to be the most competitive golfer you can be, this (the PGA Tour) is the place to be. And if you don’t want to play here, I think that says something about you,” McIlroy told reporters at the Truist Championship in Charlotte, N.C. McIlroy never mentioned DeChambeau by name, and he’s not the only LIV golfer who has publicly expressed hesitation about returning to the PGA Tour in the event LIV is no longer an option — but with all due respect to Anirban Lahiri, his Crushers teammate’s situation is of far more importance in the golf world these days. DeChambeau’s contract with LIV ends after the 2026 season, and he holds incredible leverage at a time of upheaval for the rebel tour. With LIV CEO Scott O’Neil and his board focused on taking in new money to replace the outgoing financing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the two-time U.S. Open winner with 2.69 million YouTube subscribers is a must to keep in the fold. The Athletic has previously reported that DeChambeau’s camp took multiple meetings at the Masters to investigate his potential options. He has not ruled out a return to LIV, but it’s not an either/or choice for him between the competing men’s professional golf tours. DeChambeau has made it clear he’s willing to stay away from tour golf completely, film content for his YouTube channel and “play tournaments that want me,” he told ESPN on Tuesday. The PGA Tour stands to impose penalties on DeChambeau should he want to return, given his original defection to LIV in 2022. He also participated in a lawsuit against the PGA Tour and expressed annoyance to Skratch about the tour’s policies regarding players filming content before and during a tournament. McIlroy led the initial push against LIV, though he later backed off and has not had a leadership role on tour in a couple of seasons. His comments Friday made it clear he’s still paying attention and willing to be open-minded about players coming back from LIV. “It all depends on what happens to LIV. But if it is a scenario where they have the option to come back and play on the traditional tours, you know, I think (PGA Tour CEO) Brian Rolapp has said anything that makes this Tour stronger, anything that makes the DP World Tour stronger, I think everyone should be open to that. That’s just good business practice,” McIlroy said. McIlroy and DeChambeau will meet up next week at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms