For the second time in six days, Bryson DeChambeau has taken to social media to clear the air. In a week in which the news coming out of the Genesis Invitational was just as much about top players’ loyalties to the PGA Tour as it was Tiger Woods hosting an event, DeChambeau on Sunday became the latest player to address his future in golf — or at least which tour it will be on.
“While there has been a lot of speculation surrounding my support for another tour, I want to make it very clear that as long as the best players in the world are playing the PGA Tour, so will I,” the statement read. “As of now, I am focused on getting myself healthy and competing again soon. I appreciate all the support.”
The rise of a potential Saudi-backed Super Golf League has threatened the PGA Tour for over a year, but in the past week alone, several of the game’s biggest starts have confirmed their allegiances to the PGA Tour. Dustin Johnson added his name to that list earlier on Sunday, releasing a statement that said “he’s fully committed to the PGA Tour.”
Hours later, DeChambeau said he’d follow the best players in the world. And, for now, it seems like the majority of the biggest stars are staying on the PGA Tour.
“I think no one really knew where Bryson stood,” Rory McIlroy said after his round on Sunday. “He never really made a definitive answer one way or another, so it’s nice that he’s come out and has been definitive and said what he said.”
The latest statement from DeChambeau comes just six days after another he made on Monday, in which he rebuked rumors that he wouldn’t plan in any more PGA Tour events. DeChambeau’s agent, Brett Falkoff, doubled down on that same denial. “It’s absolutely false,” he told GOLF.com. “It’s baseless speculation and completely untrue. The only reason he’s not playing this week is because he’s injured.” [Eds. note: DeChambeau is the playing editor for GOLF Magazine/GOLF.com.]
Adding another wrinkle to the PGA Tour vs. Super Golf League controversy, Alan Shipnuck wrote a story for the Fire Pit Collective that was published on Thursday and picked up by several outlets well into the weekend. In it, Phil Mickelson described his role in the upstart league and explained why he’d consider joining it.
“I’m not sure I even want [the SGL] to succeed, but just the idea of it is allowing us to get things done with the [PGA] Tour,” Mickelson said.
