DeChambeau turned up the volume during the Covid pandemic blockade to help him hit the ball harder and then won the US 2020 Open
Bryson DeChambeau has become the most important player to turn his back on the PGA Tour and join the new LIV Golf series funded by Saudi Arabia.
The 28-year-old American won the 2020 U.S. Open and is at the best of his career.
It was unveiled the next day that the PGA Tour said it would suspend any member joining the rival circuit.
DeChambeau’s first appearance will be at the second event in the $ 250 million (£ 200 million) series, which runs from June 30 to July 2 in Portland, Oregon.
The first of seven £ 20 million 54-hole events is currently taking place at the Centurion Club, near London, with a £ 40 million four-day final scheduled for October in Miami.
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman said DeChambeau was “an exciting addition” because he is “passionate and innovative in his approach and committed to pushing the boundaries.”
“He’s not afraid to think outside the box and supports our mission to do things differently to grow our game.”
DeChambeau, who turned professional in 2016 and officially joined the PGA Tour in 2017, is the eighth grand champion to join the new series.
He added about 40 pounds of muscle to his body during the Covid-19 pandemic while looking for more distance from the tee and was rewarded almost instantly when he won the 2020 U.S. Open with his “bomb and gouge “to hit the ball long and then. get him out of trouble.
DeChambeau has spent much of the last two years in the top 10 of the world rankings, but is currently 28th, having fallen after injuring himself at the Saudi International Asian Tour in February, where DeChambeau and many other PGA Tour players could play.
And the drop in rankings may not stop there, as LIV Golf events currently do not carry any ranking points, although Norman said last month that he was confident his series would get them.
Qualifying points are important because they help players qualify for the top four that define their career.
DeChambeau is confident at the moment that his victory at the U.S. Open earned him a 10-year exemption for this event, as well as five-year exemptions for the U.S. Open, Masters, and PGA Championships in the United States.
The U.S. Golf Association, which runs the U.S. Open, has said players who qualify for this week’s LIV golf event will be able to play in the men’s third major of the week. next 2022. R&A has not yet commented on the 150th championship open in July.
DeChambeau took “a big risk” to return soon from that injury to play in the Masters, the biggest opening of the year. But after losing the cut at Augusta National, he underwent surgery on his left hand, which caused him to lose the U.S. PGA Championship last month.
He then missed last week’s Memorial Tournament cut, which looks set to be his last on the PGA Tour, given the statement sent to all its members on Thursday by Commissioner Jay Monahan.
Monahan wrote: “According to the rules of the PGA Tour tournament, players competing this week without pitches are suspended or no longer eligible to participate in the PGA Tour tournament game, including the Presidents Cup.
“The same fate befell any other player who participates in future events of the Saudi Golf League in violation of our regulations.
“These players have made their choice for their own financial reasons.
“But they can’t demand the same benefits, considerations, opportunities and platform of PGA Tour membership as you. That expectation doesn’t apply to you, our fans and our partners.”
The PGA Tour refused to allow requests for exemptions to play at the first LIV golf event, which is being funded out of the deep pockets of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Norman said last month that he has secured an additional £ 1.6bn in funding to turn this initial series of eight-event invitations into a 14-event league in 2024, but he also wants his series to run alongside the others. turns.
Six-time senior champion Phil Mickelson, who earlier this week did not deny that he has been given an appearance fee of $ 200 million, and former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, who has received a $ 150 million is among the most important names in the beginning. Field of 48 people at the Centurion this week.
Johnson resigned from his PGA Tour on Tuesday, while lifelong member Mickelson hoped to stay in his.
Englishman Ian Poulter has pledged to fight the decision, while Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia and Graeme McDowell have confirmed that they have resigned from the US Tour before Monahan’s note is sent.
Crucially, the PGA Tour has also closed a gap that could have allowed players who have given up the tour to play events through sponsorship exemptions.
The DP World Tour, based in Europe, remains silent about the situation. It has a “strategic alliance” with the PGA Tour, which McDowell fears could force their hand.
On Thursday, the Northern Irishman, winner of the 2010 U.S. Open, said: “I hope Keith [Pelley, DP World Tour chief] it’s not the same, but maybe they should. “
South African Charl Schwartzel is still leading the inaugural LIV event after claiming a bird on the 18th to finish four below the second-round pair.
The 2011 Masters champion faces the third and final round with a three-shot lead over compatriot Hennie du Plessis, but Mickelson struggled on Friday, following his par parity in the opening round with a five against to be 26th in the 48 players. rural area.
-9 C Schwartzel (SA); -6 H from Plessis (SA); -4 Becker (SA); -3 P Dog (USA); -1 D Johnson (USA), S Horsfield (Light), S Vincent (Small), P Khongwatmai (Good) Selected: +1 L Oosthuizen (SA), S Garcia (Spa), I Poulter (Light); +4 P Mickelson (USA), M Kaymer (Ger); +5 G McDowell (NI); +6 L Westwood (English)