The outspoken Golf Channel analyst has criticized the format of LIV Golf tournaments in an interview on the No Laying Up podcast.
It’s no secret that Brandel Chamblee is not a fan of LIV Golf. The Golf Channel analyst has been a regular critic of the big-money circuit since its inception, and now he has taken aim at its format.
Chamblee was a guest on the No Laying Up Podcast. During the interview, he emphasized that the Saudi Public Investment Fund has not seen a satisfactory return on the substantial financial investment they have made.
He expressed his disappointment by stating, “When we assess the quality of the product they have produced, it is hard to believe that the billions of dollars, time, and effort invested have resulted in such an underwhelming outcome.”
He proceeded to delve deeper into what he perceives as the shortcomings of the product, stating: “They are using the product to play music and take pictures, where individual competition is not as crucial as team competition.”
“So you come to the last hole and you need to birdie to win the individual competition but a par to win the team, are you really trying to make a birdie because if you take the risk and the team loses there’s hell to pay, so I think it’s an insult to the integrity of competition.”
Chamblee then turned to the shotgun start element of the format, which sees all 54 players beginning their rounds at the same time from different holes. That means that, very often, the winning putt comes on a hole other than the 18th, and Chamblee thinks that disregards the expertise that goes into golf course design.
Chamblee then turned to the shotgun start element of the format, which sees all 54 players beginning their rounds at the same time from different holes. That means that, very often, the winning putt comes on a hole other than the 18th, and Chamblee thinks that disregards the expertise that goes into golf course design.
He explained: “You’re not meant to win golf tournaments on the third hole or the fourth hole.
“There’s a reason you pay architects to build a crescendo of drama and they give great thought to how they want a championship or day of a round to play out and the highest drama is usually not going to be on the second or third or the fourth hole. It’s going to build and you’re meant to have a sequence of order in championships.”
Chamblee has criticized the origin of LIV Golf’s funding due to Saudi Arabia’s human rights record in the past, and he once again harshly condemned it. He also expressed his disapproval of the product being presented.
He stated that we should ignore the source of the money, no matter how deceitful or deranged it may be, and focus only on the competition, which he found to be ridiculous.
Chamblee emphasized that he would not accept the high salaries that have attracted top players to LIV Golf, even if they were offered to him. He stated that while it may be tempting for anyone to accept such an offer, he believes he would resist the temptation.
Can money make certain things easier, that amount of money? Yes, it can. It may be simple to claim that I would not accept the money, but when you consider the influence of that money and the pressure it puts on your children to earn money, it becomes more complicated.
When I wake up in the morning, money is not the first thing on my mind.” Chamblee’s remarks in May during an interview with Golf WRX are similar to his recent comments. He criticized the format of the LIV tournament, describing it as “stupid”.
Chamblee believes that starting with 54 players playing 54 holes is haphazard and unfair. He strongly feels that no golfer should have to finish their tournament on a par three while competitors are completing their rounds on the last few holes.
“The idea is simply absurd. It is impossible to accurately assess the skills of the players.”
Leave a Reply