Bryson DeChambeau has revealed why he’s still part of LIV Golf’s antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour, insisting his involvement is about “principle” rather than “money”.
Eleven LIV golf players initially sued the PGA Tour back in August after they were given indefinite bans for competing in the breakaway league.
But since then, the case has become all but dead in the water as player after player, including Phil Mickelson and Ian Poulter, pulled their name from the lawsuit to leave just three rebels seeking justice.
And now, after raising eyebrows as to why he’s still involved, DeChambeau has revealed his exact motivations for suing the PGA Tour, explaining it’s down to “unpaid” payments relating to the Player Impact Program (PIP).
“I will say, personally, there have been many opportunities for me to not be apart of it,” he told ESPN. “But considering the PGA Tour’s actions and the way they’ve handled certain situations, given the fact one of the reasons I’m in the lawsuit is because they haven’t paid me my second half of my PIP money.
“The money isn’t the significant part, it’s more the principle. And it’s really been frustrating over the last six years that I’ve had to deal with them. It’s consistently frustration after frustration at them just not handling things correctly, from my perspective.”
DeChambeau finished fifth in the inaugural PGA Tour PIP standings in 2021, earning the former US Open champion $3.5 million. But the American, who joined LIV Golf for a reported $125 million, claims he’s only received half the money based on a “childish” technicality.
“I had an obligation this November, there was one last thing I needed to do to complete the whole thing,” he continued. “But they said because you’re not in good standing, we’re not allowing you to do something to help out junior golf and junior golfers.
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“To me, that’s childish. It just shows where they stand emotionally. I respect and understand it, but when you’ve completed something and provided entertainment for them last year, that’s the reason I’m in the lawsuit.”
Peter Uihlein and Matt Jones remain the other two LIV golfers involved in the lawsuit alongside DeChambeau, while the Greg Norman-led league has itself joined as a plaintiff.
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