Latest news with #Saudi-funded
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bryson DeChambeau's Behavior in Latest Post Has Fans Talking
Bryson DeChambeau's Behavior in Latest Post Has Fans Talking originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Thursday, the golf world is still abuzz after a press conference held by Bryson DeChambeau on Wednesday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Virginia. Advertisement In June 2022, DeChambeau joined the Saudi-funded LIV Golf League on a record-breaking deal, ending his PGA Tour membership. In advance of the LIV Golf Virginia tournament, running Friday to Sunday, DeChambeau offered a detailed rundown of his recent "side quests," his influencer role and his approach to preparing for upcoming majors. He spoke about everything from flying helicopters and collecting salts at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats to hitting golf balls on the White House lawn. While those comments were covered extensively by the media, fans online were quick to react. "Man is insufferable," replied one fan. Advertisement "Circus clown with his head up his own [expletive]," another user said. "Loves the sound of his own voice 🤦♂️," one other commenter replied. "What a god damn nerd," another fan said. "Can't stand him holy hell," said another user. "This is why people can't stand golf media," one other post read. Bryson DeChambeau at the PGA Dedmon-Imagn Images After turning pro in 2016, DeChambeau quickly made his mark by tying for fourth at the RBC Heritage in his professional debut. He earned his first PGA Tour victory at the 2017 John Deere Classic, won the Memorial Tournament in 2018 and in 2020, won both the Rocket Mortgage Classic and, more importantly, his first major championship: the U.S. Open. Advertisement In doing so, he joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the third player to win the NCAA title, the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open. He won the U.S. Open title again in 2024, capturing his second major championship. DeChambeau is now set to defend that U.S. Open title at Oakmont Country Club next week. Related: Phil Mickelson Makes Big Career Announcement on Wednesday Related: Scottie Scheffler's Actions in New Video Spark Strong Reaction From PGA Tour This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bryson DeChambeau preps for U.S. Open with LIV D.C. event, practice on White House lawn
GAINESVILLE, Va. — As much as Bryson DeChambeau loves to practice and compete, the U.S. Open champion also appreciates the limited LIV Golf schedule that gives him time to pursue other interests. DeChambeau arrived at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Golf Virginia after a characteristically busy few days that included a round of golf with President Donald Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House. Advertisement Now the big-hitting YouTube star turns his attention to the 54-hole LIV event that starts Friday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. He said the thick rough and fast greens at RTJ would help prepare him for Oakmont, where he will try next week to win his third U.S. Open after triumphs last year at Pinehurst No. 2 and in 2020 at Winged Foot. 'I think LIV afforded me the opportunity to spend more time thinking, strategizing, getting my body healthy, ready for majors in a pretty unique way,' DeChambeau said Wednesday. 'For me, it was a great thing. I thought there was an opportunity to do other things in life, and look, do I want to win every single tournament I show up to? 100%.' The RTJ event is the eighth of 14 tournaments this year for the globetrotting, Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. Although PGA Tour players have more freedom to set their own schedules, they typically play more often. For top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, the U.S. Open will be the fourth of five events in a seven-week stretch. DeChambeau hasn't competed since last month's PGA Championship, won by Scheffler . While DeChambeau was enjoying a friendly round with Trump and posting a YouTube short in which he hit golf balls from the top of a mountain and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Scheffler was finishing off his third win of the past month at the Memorial. Advertisement 'I've been doing some fun side quests, yes, there's no doubt,' DeChambeau said. When he does compete, nobody practices harder than DeChambeau. He hit 1,029 range balls — more than anyone else in the field — at the Masters, where he finished in a tie for fifth . The 31-year-old DeChambeau said he developed his practice habits as a teenager, when other junior golfers in California were beating him even though they didn't appear to try as hard. 'It stemmed from me not being as good as others and then realizing I can only be as good as how hard I work,' DeChambeau said. 'So I just became obsessed with hitting crazy amounts of golf balls.' Advertisement Known for trying to optimize his swing and his equipment to produce a consistent ball flight — a long, high draw — DeChambeau also spends time practicing the unusual shots he needs to finish off tournaments. 'As much as I am a robot, and try to swing it as straight as possible and just stable as possible, I still do have to hit cuts and draws and hit weird shots every once in a while,' he said. 'Giving myself those opportunities in the bunker, in the bush, whatever, has only aided in my golf career.'
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
Bryson DeChambeau preps for U.S. Open with LIV D.C. event, practice on White House lawn
GAINESVILLE, Va. — As much as Bryson DeChambeau loves to practice and compete, the U.S. Open champion also appreciates the limited LIV Golf schedule that gives him time to pursue other interests. DeChambeau arrived at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Golf Virginia after a characteristically busy few days that included a round of golf with President Donald Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House. Now the big-hitting YouTube star turns his attention to the 54-hole LIV event that starts Friday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. He said the thick rough and fast greens at RTJ would help prepare him for Oakmont, where he will try next week to win his third U.S. Open after triumphs last year at Pinehurst No. 2 and in 2020 at Winged Foot. 'I think LIV afforded me the opportunity to spend more time thinking, strategizing, getting my body healthy, ready for majors in a pretty unique way,' DeChambeau said Wednesday. 'For me, it was a great thing. I thought there was an opportunity to do other things in life, and look, do I want to win every single tournament I show up to? 100%.' The RTJ event is the eighth of 14 tournaments this year for the globetrotting, Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. Although PGA Tour players have more freedom to set their own schedules, they typically play more often. For top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, the U.S. Open will be the fourth of five events in a seven-week stretch. DeChambeau hasn't competed since last month's PGA Championship, won by Scheffler . While DeChambeau was enjoying a friendly round with Trump and posting a YouTube short in which he hit golf balls from the top of a mountain and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Scheffler was finishing off his third win of the past month at the Memorial. 'I've been doing some fun side quests, yes, there's no doubt,' DeChambeau said. When he does compete, nobody practices harder than DeChambeau. He hit 1,029 range balls — more than anyone else in the field — at the Masters, where he finished in a tie for fifth . The 31-year-old DeChambeau said he developed his practice habits as a teenager, when other junior golfers in California were beating him even though they didn't appear to try as hard. 'It stemmed from me not being as good as others and then realizing I can only be as good as how hard I work,' DeChambeau said. 'So I just became obsessed with hitting crazy amounts of golf balls.' Known for trying to optimize his swing and his equipment to produce a consistent ball flight — a long, high draw — DeChambeau also spends time practicing the unusual shots he needs to finish off tournaments. 'As much as I am a robot, and try to swing it as straight as possible and just stable as possible, I still do have to hit cuts and draws and hit weird shots every once in a while,' he said. 'Giving myself those opportunities in the bunker, in the bush, whatever, has only aided in my golf career.'
a day ago
- Entertainment
Bryson DeChambeau is back to competing, preparing for US Open title defense after 'fun side quests'
GAINESVILLE, Va. -- As much as Bryson DeChambeau loves to practice and compete, the U.S. Open champion also appreciates the limited LIV Golf schedule that gives him time to pursue other interests. DeChambeau arrived at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club for LIV Golf Virginia after a characteristically busy few days that included a round of golf with President Donald Trump and some short-game practice on the South Lawn of the White House. Now the big-hitting YouTube star turns his attention to the 54-hole LIV event that starts Friday at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. He said the thick rough and fast greens at RTJ would help prepare him for Oakmont, where he will try next week to win his third U.S. Open after triumphs last year at Pinehurst No. 2 and in 2020 at Winged Foot. 'I think LIV afforded me the opportunity to spend more time thinking, strategizing, getting my body healthy, ready for majors in a pretty unique way,' DeChambeau said Wednesday. 'For me, it was a great thing. I thought there was an opportunity to do other things in life, and look, do I want to win every single tournament I show up to? 100%.' The RTJ event is the eighth of 14 tournaments this year for the globetrotting, Saudi-funded LIV Golf League. Although PGA Tour players have more freedom to set their own schedules, they typically play more often. For top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, the U.S. Open will be the fourth of five events in a seven-week stretch. DeChambeau hasn't competed since last month's PGA Championship, won by Scheffler. While DeChambeau was enjoying a friendly round with Trump and posting a YouTube short in which he hit golf balls from the top of a mountain and the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, Scheffler was finishing off his third win of the past month at the Memorial. 'I've been doing some fun side quests, yes, there's no doubt,' DeChambeau said. When he does compete, nobody practices harder than DeChambeau. He hit 1,029 range balls — more than anyone else in the field — at the Masters, where he finished in a tie for fifth. The 31-year-old DeChambeau said he developed his practice habits as a teenager, when other junior golfers in California were beating him even though they didn't appear to try as hard. 'It stemmed from me not being as good as others and then realizing I can only be as good as how hard I work,' DeChambeau said. 'So I just became obsessed with hitting crazy amounts of golf balls.' Known for trying to optimize his swing and his equipment to produce a consistent ball flight — a long, high draw — DeChambeau also spends time practicing the unusual shots he needs to finish off tournaments. 'As much as I am a robot, and try to swing it as straight as possible and just stable as possible, I still do have to hit cuts and draws and hit weird shots every once in a while,' he said. 'Giving myself those opportunities in the bunker, in the bush, whatever, has only aided in my golf career.' After he shocked the golf world four years ago by winning the PGA Championship at age 50, Phil Mickelson had a moment of honest self-assessment. 'It's very possible that this is the last tournament I ever win. Like if I'm being realistic,' Mickelson said on that triumphant Sunday at Kiawah Island. Mickelson hasn't won since, and while he wasn't eager to reflect Wednesday on a career that includes six major titles and just as many famous near-misses, he indicated his competitive future is limited. He said he wants to help his teammates on LIV's HyFlyers squad and would step away if he's no longer doing that. 'I'm also going to be 55 in a couple weeks, so I want to be realistic there, too. I want this team to succeed. I don't want to hold it back,' Mickelson said. 'If I'm holding it back, then it's time for me to move on and get somebody else in here.' Mickelson also acknowledged the possibility that Oakmont will be his last U.S. Open. He has a record six runner-up finishes at the national championship, the only major he hasn't won. 'There's a high likelihood that it will be,' Mickelson said, 'but I haven't really thought about it too much.' The USGA gave Mickelson a special exemption to the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, which he ultimately didn't need because he won at Kiawah a month earlier. Nonetheless, the U.S. Open historically does not grant more than one special exemption to any player, and Mickelson has missed the past three U.S. Open cuts. He remains exempt for the other three majors as a past champion.
a day ago
- Business
US Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain joins LIV Golf
GAINESVILLE, Va. -- U.S. Amateur champion Jose Luis Ballester of Spain has joined LIV Golf and will make his professional debut this week at the Saudi-funded league's Virginia event. Ballester, who goes by the nickname Josele, signed a multiyear contract, LIV said Wednesday, and will be part of the Fireballs team captained by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia. 'We are very excited about Josele joining the team,' Garcia said in a statement. 'Personally, I have known him since he could pick up a golf club and he has worked with my father as his coach throughout his golf career.' The 21-year-old Ballester recently concluded his senior season at Arizona State, the alma mater of LIV stars Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson. He finished third in the PGA Tour University standings, earning him full status on the Korn Ferry Tour, but Golf Channel reported Monday that he declined membership on the PGA Tour's top developmental circuit. Although he missed the cut at the Masters in April, Ballester had a viral moment when he relieved himself in Rae's Creek on the par-5 13th hole. Ballester defeated Noah Kent 2 up in the 36-hole U.S. Amateur final at Hazeltine last August. Although he is turning professional, he keeps his spot in next week's U.S. Open at Oakmont as the reigning champion of the USGA's top amateur event. Ballester joins Abraham Ancer and David Puig alongside Garcia on the Fireballs. Luis Masaveu loses his full-time spot on the team, although he remains in the lineup this week because Puig has a back injury. Masaveu does not have status on any other tour and he would be banned from competing in PGA Tour events for a year after his final LIV appearance.
