Bryson DeChambeau shot a three-under 67 on Saturday and will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the U.S. Open.
And toward the end of the round, NBC announcers Dan Hicks, Mike Tirico, and Brandel Chamblee had a conversation about DeChambeau, LIV Golf, and the upcoming Summer Olympics in Paris.
Hicks got the conversation going as DeChambeau was walking toward the 16th hole by informing viewers what DeChambeau’s hat represented.
“If you haven’t been watching LIV Golf and you don’t know what that is on Bryson’s cap, that’s the Crushers LIV team that he plays for, since leaving the PGA Tour,” Hicks said.
“And of all the guys who went over to LIV and have come back, it’s certainly been Bryson DeChambeau who has distinguished himself back over here, when they play the major championships,” he added. “He had a high finish at the Masters and then another good one at the PGA Championship. Brooks Koepka has won a major but as of late, this has been DeChambeau’s show.”
Tirico then brought the upcoming Olympics into the discussion.
“You know, Dan, we’re heading towards the U.S. Olympic Trials. Tonight on NBC, the swimming trials are coming up live for you. At the end of this event, we’ll know the four players who are gonna represent the U.S.A. in golf in the Olympics in Paris.
“And because of the back and forth with the tours and the World Golf Rankings and all that stuff, there’s a special Olympic ranking list, as well,” added Tirico. “Bryson DeChambeau and the LIV guys aren’t a part of that. And that’s a disappointment. Because here’s a guy who’s finished three times in the majors — unless he has a disaster tomorrow – in the top 10. He should be representing the U.S. It’s just part of…”
“Of what’s wrong with the sport right now,” an interjecting Hicks said.
“Of everything that has happened with the sport,” said Tirico. “There are unintended consequences that are hurting the game. And that’s another one of them.”
Chamblee, who’s been an ardent critic of LIV Golf throughout its existence and has not softened his stance, weighed in.
“That’s unfortunate for sure, Mike,” he said. “I would agree that it is unfortunate. But all of the players that went to LIV, they well knew, they well knew that they were going to a tour that did not qualify for World Ranking points. They’ve made no concessions to gain those points by altering their format in such a way that they could.”
U.S. Open commentators with a rather frank conversation about Bryson DeChambeau and LIV Golf. pic.twitter.com/sFdrX2GtzG
— Vid Clip Hero (@VidClipHero) June 15, 2024
Prior to the start of the U.S. Open, the four golfers in position to represent the United States in the Olympic men’s golf tournament are Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa.
