Just under a week after sparking a furore that overshadowed the British Open, Bryson DeChambeau has been quizzed as to what unfolded on that fateful Friday at Royal Birkdale that derailed his bid.
But to suggest the American, who sits second behind Australian star Lucas Herbert in the LIV Golf tournament being held north of Birmingham, provided a detailed account on what occurred would be an exaggeration.
The American, who was issued with a two-shot sanction for inadvertently improving his lie when in the wilds off the fifth tee in the second round last Friday, has issued a media ban at regular majors but not so when it comes to the breakaway tour.
There was much to ask about the events in the 154th Open, among them his thoughts on the searing criticism he received from Rory McIlroy and whether he declared that he wanted officials to speak to US President Donald Trump.
The floor was open to the dual-US Open champion after he shot an 8-under 64 at the JCB Golf and Country Club, with Bryson DeChambeau asked for his takeaways from Royal Birkdale and his “fight back” from the “adversity” he experienced there.
The LIV Golf superstar pointed to the fact that he made his first cut in a major this year and lamented not giving more on the weekend, saying that had he played the 5th and 11th holes better, he would have “tied for the lead right there”.
“That’s two holes and I’m right there with the Claret Jug,” he said.
Bryson DeChambeau press conference before LIV Golf
“Life goes on. There are moments of adversity in everyone’s life and I was passionate about what I believed and thought was right. For me, it is what it is and you keep moving through it, you keep moving past it.
“So for me, I’m excited about Lucas tomorrow. There are three more days and we are here to win this week. The Crushers are and I am as well.”
But he was not pressed on the more pertinent issues, including what he said to officials, with the discussion instead turning to the action on the course.
Herbert, meanwhile, has carried the momentum from an outstanding effort at Royal Birkdale into the LIV UK tournament at a time where the tour’s future looks increasingly clouded.
After narrowly missing setting a new major record of 61 last Friday on the way to his first top 10 finish in a major, the Victorian leads the lucrative UK tournament by three shots after shooting an 11-under 61 on Thursday.
Herbert, a member of the Ripper GC team captained by Cameron Smith, is seeking his second LIV tour success this year after a win in Virginia in May.
He is looking forward to playing alongside Bryson DeChambeau on Friday, noting that among the other deeds that sparked the controversy, the American did end his run of outs at major level with an outstanding round last Friday.
“It was great seeing Bryson DeChambeau play the way he did last week because the story Wednesday was he was on a streak of — he was potentially going to miss every cut for the year, and then all of a sudden the conversation about him Friday was very, very different,” Herbert said
“He comfortably knocked that story on the head and he was in the media for other reasons, but one of them being he was playing some great golf. It’s good to see him doing that.
“Every time I play with him it’s a fun battle. He brings a lot of energy with the crowd. I’m kind of looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully the English crowds get out and feel the energy, too.”
Australian Marc Leishman is in a tie for 7th at 4-under, while Smith is a shot further back at 3-under just a week after narrowly missing the cut at Royal Birkdale.
The golf aside, reports from the event in the UK state that participants are increasingly concerned about the future of LIV Golf, which has been under a cloud since the Saudi Arabian Private Investment Fund announced it would no longer fund it.
Martin Kaymer, the former world No.1, said it appeared extremely unlikely the lucrative season-ending event in Michigan would be held, but tournaments in Bedminster and Indianapolis next month still look likely to occur.
Smith said last week that the next couple of months would be telling in terms of whether LIV Golf has a future, with the league’s chief executive Scott O’Neill continuing to pursue private investment from alternate sources.
Earlier this week, the Asian Tour which had acted as a feeder league to LIV Golf broke away from the body and renewed links with the DP World Tour and an alliance with the PGA Tour.
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