“Golf is not a forgiving sport,” admitted a sad Bryson DeChambeau! And rightfully so. As challenging as golf is physically, it is mentally tiring too! Coming so close to a win and yet losing, just like DeChambeau did at Valhalla, where he lost the Wanamaker by 1 stroke. DeChambeau said this in context to taking care of one’s mental health, especially in times like these: Grayson Murray’s tragic passing and young players like 15-year-old Miles Russell playing on the competitive greens after getting a sponsor exemption. As per the 1x major winner, it’s not as if the problem is without a solution. Enter LIV Golf, with its unique “team” format.

Bryson DeChambeau comes out candid on golf’s mental struggles

In the press conference in Houston, the 30-year-old was asked whether he, as a teenager, knew how to handle the pressure. DeChambeau quickly brought in the examples of Jordan Spieth and Scottie Scheffler, not to mention himself later on, to point out how a lot of pressure is put on young athletes: “There are so many great golfers that have had experiences of pressure at a young age, and relating it back to myself for just a moment, there’s been numerous times where I’ve second-guessed myself on a massive level.”

He then recounted the time he joined LIV as well as the year 2016 when he missed 14 cuts before emerging victorious at the John Deere Classic: “My team has experienced it. I’ve experienced it.” In almost 2 years of joining the Saudi-funded league, he has won just twice, which again can be very mentally tiring.

The athlete, meanwhile, made sure to bring in the team aspect as a solution to the undue pressure. He explained that having a team around you helps you rely on them on less good days. As per DeChambeau’s short 6-word verdict, “That’s why LIV is so amazing!” Talking about how the team aspect has helped him, he shared, “That’s what I was doing at Singapore last year.”

The professional had finished three days of play with a sub-par performance while finishing T22 at 7-under in Singapore. Despite the dismal placement, the golfer was able to handle himself all thanks to his team. “Those guys lifted me up. I’ve talked about it before. Those guys lifted me up, and it would be a different situation if those guys weren’t here. If they weren’t there to push me forward and go, no, come on, Bryson, you can do it.”

Coming back to the 15-year-old, the LIV Golf Pro expressed his appreciation of the youngster’s talent in receiving a sponsor exemption to play his PGA Tour debut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He also conveyed hope that the teenager would have the right people by his side to tackle the immense pressure. “Any tour you’re playing on, whether you’re playing mini-tours or challenge tours, it doesn’t matter. The pressure is just massive,” said DeChambeau.

“For Miles, I hope he has the right people around him to continue to push him in a positive direction because we all need that at the end of the day.” The athlete, meanwhile, didn’t forget to wish the best for Russell. But as he did so, the American pro also made sure to dish out praise for the LIV Golf League while at it: “We all need to have a good support system, and that’s ultimately what LIV provides as well.”

If one were to talk about the mental health struggles that a golfer faces, one couldn’t possibly ignore the tragic death of Grayson Murray. The 30-year-old golfer took his own life after withdrawing from the second round of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Murray had suffered from alcoholism, and depression in the past. Murray’s death also stands testament to the fact how challenging golf can be. The Crushers GC skipper also didn’t forget to express his condolences for Grayson Murray and his loved ones including his family.

DeChambeau on Grayson Murray’s passing

“My heart goes out to his family,” said the LIV golfer as he added, “It’s not easy what he’s gone through, what we all go through as professionals. My heart aches for him and his family.” The 2020 U.S. Open champ also admitted that he knew the PGA Tour pro pretty well before offering his sympathies.

Bryson DeChambeau also went ahead to recall his experience with the late while highlighting the need to address mental health. “It’s a tragic loss that we had with Grayson because he was a good man,” recounted the two-time LIV Golf champ, “We played junior golf as a world team championship at Bolingbrook… So it’s going to be a hard-hitting moment for me when I go out there because he was a friend. As much as he struggled, he was a friend and he was a good man, and the pressures of golf need to be taken seriously.” 

The recent happenings in the golf world truly do paint a bleak image for the athletes of the sport. One can’t help but worry for the golfers as they try to dish out their best week after week on the golf course.