Brandel Chamblee has delivered a fierce assessment of LIV Golf following the league’s financial collapse and Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, accusing the Saudi-backed circuit of causing lasting damage to professional golf.
The outspoken golf analyst has been one of LIV Golf’s most persistent critics since the league emerged, and its latest financial troubles have given Chamblee another opportunity to voice his concerns.
Chamblee argued that the involvement of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, followed by its decision to withdraw its financial backing, exposed the consequences of the project and the disruption it caused across professional golf.
In an especially harsh criticism, Chamblee accused LIV of introducing what he described as “an evil ethos of corruption and consumption” into the sport.
He also took aim at the players who joined LIV, arguing that they surrendered a level of independence by becoming associated with the Saudi-backed project.
According to Chamblee, players who once had complete autonomy ultimately became “a puppet for a regime.”
The former Golf Channel analyst also singled out several of LIV Golf’s biggest names, placing much of the responsibility on those who helped establish and grow the league.
“Those who benefitted most from this destruction: Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau followed by EVERY player that took the money.”
Chamblee’s criticism went beyond the sporting consequences of LIV Golf. He also referenced Saudi Arabia’s human-rights record, including the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as part of his argument against players accepting money connected to the country’s sovereign wealth fund.
His comments come at a pivotal moment for LIV Golf.
The league is now attempting to restructure its business after entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, with questions surrounding its future, existing player contracts and whether its biggest stars will remain committed to the proposed next version of the circuit.
While LIV Golf supporters have argued that the league brought innovation, investment and new opportunities to professional golf, Chamblee clearly sees the situation very differently.
For one of LIV Golf’s most vocal critics, the bankruptcy filing represents more than a financial setback. It has become another opportunity to question the league’s impact on the sport and the decisions made by the players who joined it.
