19th Hole
‘They’re not that bright’ – Brandel Chamblee says LIV stars will be ‘out of a job’ if merger goes through
There was never going to be a low-key reaction to Tuesday’s volcanic news of the the PGA Tour-PIF merger deal.
In the midst of the Canadian Open and Scandinavian Mixed, it seems every player has been asked their reaction to the stunning news. It has amazed many that Rory McIlroy – champion spokesman for the PGA Tour over the past few years – has even managed to swing the club this week, especially after receiving some abuse from those that clearly feel the system needs the chance to open up.
- Related: ‘One of the saddest days in the history of pro golf’ – Brandel Chamblee blasts PGA Tour-LIV merger
Away from the players, reporters have understandably hung on every word said by current PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan as well as McIlory, ultra pro-LIV Phil Mickelson and Brandel Chamblee, golf broadcaster and involved in some of the strongest public rows with Lefty and recent PGA Championship victor, Brooks Koepka.
Yesterday, Chamblee, analyst for Golf Channel, tweeted his thoughts on the potential linking up of the various organizations, boldly stating that he felt at some point, the merger would be blocked.
If it’s not blocked by the player board, it will likely be blocked by the DOJ, and if not that regulatory committee, the senate … and then the regulatory review of the EU and equivalent bodies in Asia. This is a long way from being a done deal. https://t.co/XajJYQh3yC
— Brandel Chamblee (@chambleebrandel) June 8, 2023
Responses were very much on the line that if stopped, players would go directly to LIV or a similar organization. Either way, that this would be a major problem for the PGA Tour (and associated companies).
The 60-year-old then appeared on the Rich Eisen Show to put across his position in person rather than via social media.
Host Eisen initially asked Chamblee how he was – referring to Koepka’s brutal tweet once Monday’s news had hit the media.
“I’m doing a welfare check on you – how are you?” asked the host.
His guest confirmed he was “very well,” while laughing as he spoke.
“How do you take that tweet from Brooks?” asked Eisen before being told, “I laughed at it.”
Chamblee then went to town, starting with a retort to Monday’s insult.
“If you can find any laughter in that day, the fact that they thought it as a cause of celebration was quite humorous on the LIV side. I don’t think they’re that bright,”
“Because if the deal goes through” Chamblee continued. “it will lead to the destruction of LIV, which means their boss – their route back to the PGA Tour – is Jay Monahan, and I believe, and their fine gets doubled, based on their gloating that day.”
Chamblee then went on to say how he felt things might progress for the most vocal of LIV players should they be involved in the association.
“So, Phil, Brooks, Bryson, I don’t think they fully understand the ramifications if the deal goes through. They are all out of a job.”
Explaining his thoughts, Chamblee continued.
“They’ll have no place to play golf other than major championships, who haven’t really made any movement to talk to LIV players, cos they have different parameters to the PGA Tour.”
“But I tell you,” he advised them, “their avenue back through golf is going to be a highly penalized one to play the PGA Tour.”
Now getting into the swing of it, Chamblee gives his damning verdict on the player’s behaviour over the past few months.
“They [Mickelson and Kopeka amongst others] wouldn’t have done their case any favors with their quoting on social media.”
Thanks to @chambleebrandel for the chat.
He thinks LIV is going away. I’m not so sure. Adult conversation within. https://t.co/xCOQ1MgzVA
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) June 9, 2023
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19th Hole
‘It was devastating’ – Keegan Bradley reveals the call he got that made him believe he was on Ryder Cup team
This week, Keegan Bradley was a guest on the Foreplay Podcast. The 37-year-old was one of the players who seemingly narrowly missed a spot on the Ryder Cup team, and shared a heart wrenching story of how it all went down.
Apparently, Zach Johnson texted all of the players in consideration for a Captain’s pick that they’d be getting a call the following day about whether or not they’ve made the team.
When the next day arrived, Keegan got a call from Netflix, who said “Keegan, we got a camera crew five minutes from your house.”
At that moment, Bradley let himself believe that meant he was going to be heading to Rome for the Ryder Cup.
“Why would they be sending a camera crew if I’m not to get picked? For the first time, I let my brain think I did it.”
He then said he knew immediately by the tone of Zach’s voice that he wasn’t going to be picked.
“It was devastating.”
When Netflix called, Keegan allowed himself to believe he was getting a Ryder Cup pick. And then, heartbreak.
Awesome show today. pic.twitter.com/SYW8c0X6cV
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) September 21, 2023
You can catch the full episode here.
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19th Hole
Brooks Koepka explains why he understood the case for and against picking Dustin Johnson for the Ryder Cup
Brooks Koepka is the lone LIV golfer in next week’s Ryder Cup. This will be the 33-year-old’s fourth Ryder Cup, and second in Europe. In his three prior Ryder Cups, Koepka is 6-5-1 overall, including 2-0-1 in singles matches.
Koepka was extremely close to being an automatic qualifier but slipped out of the final spot during the FedEx Cup playoffs.
The five-time major champion spoke about his Ryder Cup preparation prior to this week’s LIV Chicago event, in which he will be taking a flight to Rome directly after.
“My whole mindset has been to practice for (the Ryder Cup) the last few weeks. I mean, look, I think it’s one of the top six, seven biggest sporting events you can have. It’s a little bit more eyeballs, a little bit more pressure.”
When asked if he “plays for legacy” now after all he’s accomplished, Koepka said “I think everybody remembers their record”.
“I think everybody remembers their record, or that’s kind of what you’re known by, wins, losses. Poulter has pretty much made a career on that. Yeah, I think you can.”
While speaking with Sports Illustrated this week, Brooks was asked about the fact that Dustin Johnson, who went 5-0 at Whistling Straits in 2021, was not chosen as a captains pick this time around.
“I get the case for DJ. He played great the last time, played great last year. Hasn’t really played that great this year … or hasn’t played to DJ’s standard. That’s a better way to put that. And he didn’t play well in the majors. So I can see why he didn’t get a pick. But if they had picked him, it’s DJ and I could see that one as well.”
Although there will be no other LIV players in Rome, Koepka said he’s not worried about who he plays with and can “play with anybody”.
“I can play with anybody, and I will play with anybody.”
It will be interesting to see who Koepka is paired with next week at Marco Simone.
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19th Hole
Free agent Matt Fitzpatrick explains why he can’t play golf clubs made by these two manufacturers
The 2022 U.S. Open Champion, Matt Fitzpatrick, is currently an equipment free agent. He recently sat down with GolfMagic to discuss why he isn’t tied down with a manufacturer and what his outlook is going forward.
“I struggle with TaylorMade and Callaway clubs because of the way their woods and hybrids are designed. The soles aren’t very good for me so my interaction with the turf is terrible with those. Until that changes, I’d never be able to get on with them. PING and Titleist have always been a little bit better for me.”
With TaylorMade and Callaway off the table, Fitzpatrick is currently using Titleist TSi3 and is also experimenting with a Titleist TSR3.
According to the photos captured by GolfMagic, Fitz is still using his Bettinardi BB1 Fitz, but also has a different Bettinardi prototype he’s experimenting with in Rome.
With tight fairways at Marco Simone, the Englishman will be hoping that whichever driver he chooses keeps him in the fairway at next week’s Ryder Cup.
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Pga supporter
Jun 12, 2023 at 1:34 pm
I for one even i dont much care for Brandel Chamblee, i totally agree wiith him in this case.
sandtrap
Jun 12, 2023 at 6:20 am
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Brandel still thinks that Jay will be the top dog. Has he forgotten that Yasir Al-Rumayyan will now have all the controlling interest. Brandel’s days are done and he knows it. He is just scratching at any remaining relevance he has left. Short of bringing the United Nations in to play, he sounds like a ravin lunatic. His days of speaking very publicly against everything from Tiger to LIV are done. He should be very happy with what he has made from golf, but that time has come to an end. Enjoy giving lessons at the local driving range!
Jimmy
Jun 11, 2023 at 5:27 pm
Brandel sounds like a scorned lover.
Jose Alvarez
Jun 10, 2023 at 11:42 pm
What a small man reaction. Liv golfers have nothing to do with this merger. The fact shorty thinks they will be out of a job is hilarious. In what world? The courts are going to allow Brooks, DJ, Phil to be punished for something they had no part in. Really?
Mike
Jun 10, 2023 at 8:57 am
The song “angry young man” by Billy Joel fits Chamblee perfectly. Hey dude, the future is now. It’s happened. The PGA caved in (no idea why!).
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Pull It Larry
Jun 9, 2023 at 10:37 pm
Yasir Al-Rumayyan is an incredibly useless eater who has it coming.
Dundundun!
Jun 9, 2023 at 11:31 pm
And you’re a useless HATER who has it coming
Bob
Jun 10, 2023 at 2:49 pm
Damn right! I hate head chopping midget parasites like Yasir Al-Rumayyan too!
Completely useless eaters to the rest of us.
Paul C
Jun 9, 2023 at 8:49 pm
IF Monahan kills LIV two things will happen:
-LIV players sue the PGAT for breach of contract and WIN
-LIV players apply for membership of PGAT..if denied by Jay they sue for restraint of trade and they WIN
Its more likely that Shamblee is out of a job
Bob
Jun 10, 2023 at 2:50 pm
So?
Anti-trust fail.
Imafitter
Jun 9, 2023 at 4:56 pm
Careful what you say, Chamblee. They cut off heads and will probably buy the Golf Channel too!
Someone al-Somebody
Jun 10, 2023 at 5:59 am
He’s gonna get Khashoggi’d
Jolter
Jun 9, 2023 at 12:57 pm
With PIF in charge of the purse strings, the way back to the Tour is not going to be as extreme as Chamblee believes.
Mike
Jun 9, 2023 at 11:33 am
LIV and PGA deal is a cover up to prevent PIF from discovery disclosure of payments to corrupt politicians and corporations. Joe Biden and DOJ made the call. Why would PGA settle on these terms if the tour is so great? Why would LIV dismiss suits if they have such great backing? Follow the money to the White House. It’s sportswashing for influence.
Bob Jones
Jun 9, 2023 at 1:34 pm
Your evidence?
Wilma Fingerdew
Jun 9, 2023 at 1:59 pm
“YoUr EviDenCe”
Ask your mother
LIVHasNoIntegrity
Jun 9, 2023 at 4:39 pm
Now there is some tinfoil hat stuff, PIF was never granted discovery disclosure, they were fighting to keep the PGA from getting discolsure to their corrupt fund that also funds terrorists. If any politician was paid off it was tRump or the Kushners and their 200 mil from the Saudis.
W
Jun 9, 2023 at 11:31 am
He must be friends with Will Smith.
“Keep the PGA Tour’s name out of yer F’ing mouth!!!”
lmao
Eejit
Jun 9, 2023 at 9:48 am
Nothing but HATE in that moron. Doesn’t he realise? All PEOPLE have to do is get together and leave HATE outside the door, and hash things out by TALKING about how to make things work. We’re all just PEOPLE, and each of the organisations and businesses and governments are all just PEOPLE, and there is no reason why they can’t just come together, sit down and talk and work things out – which is exactly how they created this merger, a new business venture, opportunity, avenue, venue.
He’s so clueless about the HATE that’s coming from his face and his voice, it’s hilarious. He’s really not that bright. NBC and its affiliates would do well to drop him completely and have him just go away and be quiet, and let decent human beings work things out and be nice to each other
Ned
Jun 9, 2023 at 6:48 am
Chamblee is an idiot so after paying these LIV guys 100’s of millions they are going to drop them. Talk about a DUMB statement just shows you who is the not bright one.
B T
Jun 9, 2023 at 12:53 pm
Not to mention that they are still waiting on thr ROI for the LIV teams.
Wayne King
Jun 9, 2023 at 1:34 pm
They’ll probably just leave LIV up for a few years to finish their contracts. The long term goal was basically owning golf and only way was be acquiring the pga, LIV didn’t work the interest was just not there.
Now I don’t think this whole thing is good for golf, but in a few years, it should in theory be back to just a pga with no competing leagues but it’s now for profit and PIF owns it. (on other side of table now)
Business doesn’t care about people, like Jay M. showed, the PIF will show the same loyalty to Ab Ancer and Cam Smith. They also won’t care about LIV getting world ranking points now that they will own the PGA tour, they will be fully invested in the PGA tour being the premiere tour in the world.
It all sounds hypocritical because it is and has been on both sides, standard business practices.
King of the World
Jun 9, 2023 at 2:05 pm
How do you know? You are psychic or summin? LOL You didn’t even know this merge was going to happen. You didn’t know that LIV would even happen.
OWGR is going to be revamped and it will include LIV, as well as the Asian Tour, which will get more points as the purses and sizes of those events will get bigger too, with more qualifying events and spots being opened for the new Majors formats.
You have no idea what’s coming.
LIV is going to get bigger and will be as big if not bigger than the PGA Tour, and its focus will be a Tour that actually travels the World, and it does that already, but it will do so even more.