As Scottie Scheffler tapped in his final putt in winning The Open this past weekend, his fourth major championship, I glanced at the leaderboard to see how the others fared.

Wyndham Clark had a nice tournament, as did Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy, but the only LIV player to finish in the top ten was Bryson DeChambeau.

And DeChambeau never really stood a chance after shooting a 78 on day one.

Jon Rahm, who was paid a reported $350 million to leave the PGA and join the LIV Tour in December of 2023, finished tied for 34th place.

For PIF, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund that bankrolls the league, 34th place is probably not the ROI (Return on Investment) that they were looking for.

LIV Golf – It may be sportswashing, but the players in their sport are not worth watching.

The LIV Tour versus the PGA was initially fun. Greg Norman poaching the PGA’s best talent, in a league funded by the questionable scruples of the royal Saudi family. Phil Mickelson versus Tiger Woods. Trump-loving golf bros taking on the snobby establishment. And every bad boy on the PGA seemed to be exchanging loyalties for royalties.

LIV had Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Bryson DeChambeau.

A few years later, LIV is in DeChambles.

• LIV represents the Roman numeral 54, and the number of holes that are played in their three-day tournaments. As well as the number of spectators that are showing up to watch.

Credit via People.com

• Phil Mickelson shocked the golf world when he became the face of the LIV Tour back in 2022 for a reported $200 million. But the 55-year-old Mickelson was suspended by the PGA, made questionable comments about human rights, dealt with allegations of insider trading, and apparently, had a well-known gambling issue.

It’s crazy that the LIV Tour lost a reported $400 million in 2023, and that didn’t include Phil’s gambling losses.

Careful gambling with the Saudi’s. Or instead of Phil Mickelson, it’ll be Phil Miss-You-Son.

• It all sounded good a few years ago when the LIV Tour filled its roster with major winners like Bubba Watson, Henrik Stenson, Lee Westwood, and Phil Mickelson. But that was a long time ago. Watson is the youngest of that group, and he’s now 46 years old.

Ian Poulter, Martin Kaymer, and Louis Oosthuizen are all over 40. Is this the LIV Tour or the Senior Tour?

It’s hard to have a 40-year-old be the face of your league unless his name is Tiger or Jack. You think Kevin Na could be the face of LIV Golf? Na, didn’t think so.

• Brooks Koepka looked like a great investment when he won the 2023 PGA Championship, his fifth major, soon after joining the LIV Tour. But Koepka hasn’t broken the top ten in the last ten majors, missing the cut in the last three.

Brooks Koepka shoulda kepta playing on the PGA Tour.

• Dustin Johnson came to the LIV Tour with two major championships, including a 2020 Masters. But at 41 years old, you can see the dust in Johnson’s game as he missed the cut in both this year’s Masters and the PGA Championship.

• Sergio Garcia was one of the biggest names in golf when he finished second to Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship as a rookie, and years later Garcia would capture his only major, winning the 2017 Masters.

The LIV Tour may be able to handle the Spaniard’s tantrums, whining, and privileged behavior, but that child is now 45 years old, and his game has shown it.

When it comes to playing the weekend, it’s where did you go, Sergio?

• Everyone thought Cameron Smith would be a LIV superstar when he left the PGA just minutes after winning the 2022 PGA Championship for a reported $100 million. But Smith has failed to even make the cut in the last four majors.

As for Cameron Smith, if you want the camera on Smith, you may want to try a Thursday or Friday.

Credit via IMDb

• The most successful player on this year’s LIV Tour is Joaquin Niemann. You know, that guy that no one has ever heard of.

You think Joaquin Niemann can be the face of the LIV Tour? You must be Jokin’ Me-Mann.

• Enter Jon Rahm and his $350 million deal that includes partial ownership. The 2023 Masters winner is undoubtedly the best golfer that the league has, but is he motivated?

Credit via Sportsnet

A little tubby, showing little emotion, Rahm looks as disinterested as the viewing audience.

After finishing 34th at The Open and missing the cut at the PGA Championship, he’s more like Jon Rahm Com. A romantic comedy that is entertaining at times, but generally hard to watch.

Credit via Wikipedia.org

Rahm should be able to still contend in a major, and Tyrrell Hatton has some decent days, but for LIV to contend, let alone survive, it’s really about Bryson DeChambeau.

DeChambeau’s long ball hitting and crowd-pleasing charisma make him the league’s largest asset. And a real-life Happy Gilmore.
But with a contract due to expire at the end of the 2026 season, DeChambeau is also the only thing keeping LIV, living.

So, unless Scottie Scheffler happens to be house shopping in Riyadh or Al-Kharj, it’s time to show Bryson the DeCham-Dough.

Images via IMDB, People.com, Sportsnet, Golfmonthly, Wikipedia.org

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship