Major champ says PGA Tour misses guys like Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed
Padraig Harrington recently reflected on the impact of Bryson DeChambeau and other prominent players now with LIV Golf during last week’s PGA Championship, where top names like DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele competed. Harrington lamented the absence of these players from regular PGA Tour events, emphasizing how their presence could elevate the…
Padraig Harrington recently reflected on the impact of Bryson DeChambeau and other prominent players now with LIV Golf during last week’s PGA Championship, where top names like DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Xander Schauffele competed. Harrington lamented the absence of these players from regular PGA Tour events, emphasizing how their presence could elevate the sport.
“What I realized last week? We miss Bryson… Bryson was box office last week.” – Padraig Harrington reflects on the state of golf, including PGA TOUR and LIV. @eamonlynch @damonhackGC pic.twitter.com/e9BuNmIxwX
— Golf Today (@GCGolfToday) May 22, 2024
“God, we miss Bryson,” Harrington remarked in a Golf Channel interview from the Kitchenaid PGA Championship on Wednesday. He stressed that the division within golf has been detrimental, and the excitement generated during major tournaments illustrates how compelling the sport can be when all top players participate. Notably, CBS saw a 10 percent increase in Sunday ratings compared to the previous year.
“Bryson was box office last week and really, really helped that tournament,” Harrington said, highlighting the excitement DeChambeau brought to the event. He also mentioned Patrick Reed, noting the surprise of missing such polarizing figures. While DeChambeau finished second and attracted significant support from the Sunday gallery, Reed struggled, tying for 53rd. Harrington’s comments underscore a broader point about the loss the PGA Tour has experienced with players like DeChambeau, Reed, and Brooks Koepka moving to LIV Golf. These players, whether controversial, interesting, or entertaining, draw attention and create compelling narratives for the sport.
Next month marks a year since the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund announced a merger, yet progress has been minimal and mostly behind the scenes, with notable developments including the resignation of PGA Tour Policy Board members. Jordan Spieth, a board member, countered the perception of stalled progress, stating, “I think the narrative that things are in a bad place and are moving slowly is untrue. Things are actually moving positively from both sides
