Bryson DeChambeau: Joining Saudi-backed LIV Golf is ‘a business decision’, amid PGA Tour suspension threat | Golf News

“There was a lot of financials to it and a lot of time. I get to have a life outside of golf. It’s a business decision for my family’s future, and it gave me a lot of free time, so it cleared a lot things up for me. It’s not my decision to make [PGA Tour suspension]” – DeChambeau

Bryson DeChambeau said he made “a business decision, first and foremost” in joining LIV Golf, despite the looming and promised threat of being suspended from the PGA Tour.

“There was a lot of financials to it and a lot of time. I get to have a life outside of the game of golf as well,” DeChambeau said on Monday ahead of this week’s US Open in Brookline, live on Sky Sports.

Amid reports the 28-year-old DeChambeau was offered a guaranteed $100m to join the Saudi-backed tour, which has Greg Norman as CEO, DeChambeau called the move “a business decision for my family’s future, and it gave me a lot of free time, so it cleared a lot things up for me.”

DeChambeau, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 2020 US Open, said he intends to play the final seven LIV Golf events this year. His debut will come on June 30 at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland.

DeChambeau says he intends to play the final seven LIV Golf events this year

With PGA commissioner Jay Monahan having already suspended 17 tour players for taking part in the first LIV event, and at least half of that group having resigned their PGA Tour membership, DeChambeau knows he could be sidelined as well.

“It’s not my decision to make. That’s someone else’s decision that’s making that for me,” DeChambeau said, making his first public comments since LIV Golf announced his membership.

Monahan made it clear other players who go the LIV route would be suspended as well, although DeChambeau said he has not resigned his PGA Tour membership and hoped to keep playing on the tour.

He said he has pulled out of next week’s Travelers Championship because of the distraction his presence could cause.

Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson are among the 17 players already suspended from the PGA Tour.

What can we expect at the US Open? Storylines to follow

Round-the-clock coverage from the US Open is live on Sky Sports this week, with over 40 hours of live action from the four tournament days. Watch live on Thursday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf!