With the 2025 LIV Golf season nearing its halfway point, LIV leaders have leaned heavily on star power and bold rhetoric. Bryson DeChambeau continues to promote the league as a “trailblazing future” for golf, while Phil Mickelson claims its influence has already “changed the sport forever.” Backed by deep pockets and global venues, LIV has staged a flashy, 14-event campaign stretching from Saudi Arabia to Michigan. But for all the noise, not everyone is convinced. Behind the high production values and marketing slogans, some in the golf world see a product still struggling to prove its long-term value—and one veteran voice just issued a sobering reality check.

On a recent episode of Dan on Golf, longtime golf journalist Michael Bamberger offered a stark rebuttal to the sunny narratives pushed by DeChambeau and Mickelson. “In my opinion, it has done nothing good for golf,” Bamberger said flatly. That simple but cutting statement stands in direct contrast to the upbeat proclamations from LIV’s top figures. Speaking in March ahead of the Hong Kong event, DeChambeau painted a rosy picture: “I’m very excited about the future of LIV Golf,” he said. “That’s my goal is to create this lasting legacy where we impact millions and millions of golfers’ lives around the world. That should tell you everything you should know.”

Mickelson echoed the sentiment, praising what he called “tailwinds” for LIV, including fan engagement, sponsor interest, and global attendance. LIV CEO Scott O’Neil even described the league as being on a “fun” upswing, pointing to new TV deals with FOX and ITV as signs of momentum. But Bamberger’s assessment cuts deeper. A traditionalist at heart, he explained his view not just as a critique of LIV’s business model, but as a defense of golf’s essence. “I romanticize the game,” he said. “But in part because it deserves to be romanticized—because this system of rules, and orderly behavior, and being cordial to your playing partners… it sounds fuddy-duddy, but it actually is the game.”

That spirit, he argues, has been diminished, not enhanced, by LIV’s disruption. In his view, LIV hasn’t added value to professional golf; it’s simply offered large sums of money in exchange for credibility. “Now, the game has looked much more ordinary,” he said. “Because guys have left just for money.” Bamberger conceded that LIV has financially benefited a few dozen players, caddies, and agents. But as for the greater good of the sport? “I don’t really see what LIV Golf has done to improve professional golf in any way,” he said.

With merger talks still uncertain between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the long-term fate of LIV remains questionable. But in the eyes of one of golf’s most respected voices, its short-term legacy is already clear—and it isn’t pretty. Still, even as questions swirl around its future, LIV Golf is charging ahead with its expansion plans, pushing into new markets and chasing global relevance.

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LIV Golf eyes Africa: CEO Scott O’Neil opens talks for South African debut

As LIV Golf continues its global push, CEO Scott O’Neil has set his sights on Africa. During LIV’s recent stop in South Korea, O’Neil met with South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts & Culture, Gayton McKenzie, to explore the possibility of bringing a LIV Golf event to South African soil. The meeting, captured in a widely shared photo on X, has ignited excitement about a potential new addition to the league’s expanding international footprint.

McKenzie wasted no time confirming the buzz, posting on X that they are “very close” to securing a LIV tournament for South Africa. He described LIV as the “world’s most exciting golf tournament,” and praised the South African-based Stinger GC team—Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester, and Branden Grace—for carrying the nation’s flag with pride and humility. In a video clip, McKenzie even likened the team’s spirit to the legendary Springboks rugby squad, underscoring how much pride LIV’s South African stars bring to local fans.

If finalized, the move would mark LIV Golf’s first official venture into Africa, expanding its 2025 reach beyond North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. A South African event would not only tap into the country’s deep golf tradition but also serve as a homecoming for some of LIV’s most prominent names. For a league that prides itself on disruption and international flavor, this potential African debut could be a major win, both culturally and commercially. O’Neil’s vision is global, and this meeting with McKenzie may signal just the beginning of LIV’s long-term ambitions on the continent.