Bryson DeChambeau, the man with 1.95M subscribers on YouTube, has undoubtedly created a name for himself in the golf world. But for a golfer whose “goal is to create this lasting legacy where we impact millions and millions of golfers’ lives around the world,” one of the biggest impacts may come from his work with a certain circuit. And, no, we are not talking about LIV Golf but the PGA Tour. Considering his influence, Bryson DeChambeau will benefit the Tour more than anyone can think, or, at least, that’s what an insider believes.

Per the latest Instagram post by 5 Clubs Golf, American radio personality Christopher Russo shared his thoughts on DeChambeau’s absence from the PGA Tour. Russo believes that DeChambeau is the one player the PGA Tour misses the most, aside from his appearances four times a year. He emphasized that DeChambeau’s absence from certain events hurts the tour, given his ability to draw attention and move the needle. “I think he is the one person right now that the PGA Tour misses more than anybody else. You know, having him only four times a year, and not having him in these other events, I think hurts a lot with the PGA Tour. Because, let’s face it he’s the third best player in the world right now.” 

Russo ranked DeChambeau, who is currently occupying the 13th spot, as the third-best player in the world, behind Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, though he jokingly left room for debate about Schauffele’s placement, who is the current World No. 3. “I mean, you put Scheffler one, you put Rory two, you put him three. I don’t know where you want to put Schauffele, put him in that mix too.” And well, DeChambeau seems to agree as the golfer liked the post. Talk about taking a jab!

Well, many may not agree with Russo’s statement here and they have a good reason to that. The 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club saw Xander Schauffele claim his first major title with a clutch performance, outlasting Bryson DeChambeau. Schauffele’s exceptional skill shone on the final hole, where he hit a low-running wedge shot from 36 yards out, setting up a birdie putt that he confidently sank, securing a one-shot victory. Schauffele finished at 21 under par, while DeChambeau ended at 20 under par.

Meanwhile, despite Rory McIlroy’s historic victory at the Masters, which earned him the modern career Grand Slam, he’s still trailing Scottie Scheffler in the OWGR rankings. Scheffler leads with 14.55 points, while McIlroy has 11.75, meaning McIlroy would need another significant win, possibly another major, to seriously challenge Scheffler’s standing. Regardless, Russo’s main point was that DeChambeau’s unique style and popularity make him a valuable asset to any tour, and his absence is felt by the PGA Tour. But it’s not only Russo who wants DeChambeau back on the tour, as golf fans share the same sentiment.

Golf world wants Bryson DeChambeau to return ‘home’

LIV Golf’s viewership numbers have been alarmingly low, with the Riyadh event’s opening round drawing as few as 12,000 people. Even prominent players like Bryson DeChambeau aren’t drawing significant crowds, with his recent win at LIV Golf Korea averaging just 48,000 viewers on FS1. This starkly contrasts with the PGA Tour’s strong viewership figures, frequently surpassing two million. The disparity raises questions about LIV Golf’s capacity to market its players and affect their exposure properly. DeChambeau’s persistent skill earned him $4 million at LIV Golf Korea, but the victory was overshadowed by concerningly low audience numbers.

The lack of viewership not only affects the league’s visibility but also its players’ legacies. DeChambeau, once a major player on the PGA Tour, currently gets little credit for his accomplishments in LIV Golf, harming his reputation and calling into question the league’s marketing abilities. Fans are urging DeChambeau to rejoin the PGA Tour and are commenting, “#BringBrysonHome,” with some labeling LIV Golf’s attempts to transform the sport as an “idiotic experiment.” But what do you think about it? Is DeChambeau’s talent really going to a wasted at LIV Golf? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!