‘Silly’: Amid LIV Criticisms Post Bryson DeChambeau’s Exit, Fans Band Together to Shun ‘Format’ Critics

Is LIV Golf the reason behind various golfers’ declining form? In 2023 when Jon Rahm shifted to the breakaway circuit, the 2-time major winner was deemed one of the best golfers in the world. And his improving form was expected to follow even in the 2024 season. However, playing the past three majors, Rahm’s form has been anything but perfect. The Spaniard missed the cut at the PGA Championship and finished T45 at the Masters. He couldn’t play in the U.S. Open because of a foot infection.

Nonetheless, Rahm’s lack of top finishes at the majors was assumed to be because he joined the breakaway league. Moreover, after Bryson DeChambeau missed the Open cut, the criticism for LIV Golf increased as it was again deemed the reason behind DeChambeau’s early exit. Regarding the same issue, a user named YenZen999 on Reddit called out Sky Sports and its bias. The user claimed that the commentator at the Open, Trish Johnson, a former pro cited Dustin Johnson’s poor form because of LIV Golf.

They quoted Johnson talking about Dustin Johnson’s poor putting, saying, “LIV plays golf in different countries with different greens, one week they are in Florida, the next they are in Spain” and thus it affects their gameplay. The user called it a “Confirmation bias” from the commentator and reminded of Bryson DeChambeau’s victory at the U.S. Open being a LIV Golf pro.

Seeing the LIV Golf fan complain about Sky Sports’s ‘biased’ broadcasting, other fans of the innovative league joined in. They slammed the organization and joined hands to call out the LIV Golf haters.

Netizens slam the LIV Golf haters over players’ declining form

In the past few years, two LIV Golf pros have emerged as the better players as they have won major events, unlike the other 52 players on the LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka has won five major titles from 2017, whereas DeChambeau clinched his second major at Pinehurst No. 2 just a month ago. If LIV Golf’s format was the issue, these two would not have been as successful at the majors as well. Thus, this user clarified that the decline in form for some LIV pros was not because of the league they played but a natural part of their career.

While many argued over whether the format was the reason behind dropping form, one user explained the reason behind the poor performance by LIV Golf pros at the 152nd Open. And it was not LIV Golf format but its schedule. Before the PGA Tour pros play the Open, they familiarize themselves with links golf through the Genesis Scottish Open. But the pros on the other side cannot do that. Instead, LIV Golf pros were playing in Valderrama, Spain. Perhaps that’s the reason behind LIV golfer’s ordinary play at Royal Troon. Hence, this fan made a recommendation for the LIV Golfs 2025 schedule. They said, “Personally think LIV should hold an event at Prince’s in England or Dumbarnie or Trump International in Scotland. Tons of options if go to Ireland.” 

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They said, “Bryson and Brookes with recent major wins, Sky have been anti LIV since its inception and will take any chance they can to slate it. Rahm and DJ are out of form at the minute but they’ll be back soon enough.” Another LIV Golf enthusiast disagreed with the notion that the Saudi-backed league was a culprit for poor performance. They said, “I don’t think the LIV format is reason for why LIV players might play poorly.” Notably, in the 2023 season, many LIV players charted the major leaderboards. Koepka was T2 at the 2023 Masters, whereas Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed were T4. Cameron Smith was solo 4th at the 123rd U.S. Open and many other players finished in the top 10s.

Coming to the 152nd Open Championship, joining Bryson DeChambeau, many top PGA Tour players also failed to make the cut. The rising star on the Tour, Ludvig Aberg, the world no. 2, Rory McIlroy, and the 2023 U.S. Open winner, Wyndham Clark, are a few to name. Thus, it can be assumed that Royal Troon turned out to be more challenging, and whoever got the better scores on the first day could continue on the weekend, the league they come from didn’t matter. Hence, a fan said, “Jeez with this tournament it’s literally whoever got out early enough on Thursday to post some birdies.. really tough. Oddly enough no pga/dp world player would say that’s the reason.” 

The limited field, no-cut, and 54-hole stroke play format are not the only things that differentiate LIV Golf from other professional leagues. Even golfers teeing up at the events is unique, as the breakaway league follows a shotgun start. And because of the many diversified formats, at times LIV Golf gets the tag of ‘not real golf’. But this fan busted that myth and clarified, “Calling a shotgun start not real golf is silly, but unless you want to cut the field back to 72 players, there’s literally no way around changing weather, potentially being a factor in golf tournaments.”

As the golf world slowly grows to accept LIV Golf and its players, in the future, the criticism for the breakaway circuit might not be as it stands now.