Bryson DeChambeau reveals why PIF boss made surprise appearance at LIV Golf New York
Former LIV Golf chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, made a surprise appearance at Trump National Bedminster on Sunday.
Bryson DeChambeau has revealed why LIV Golf's former chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan made a surprise appearance in New York.
Al-Rumayyan, who is also the governor of Saudi Arabia's PIF, was spotted in the clubhouse at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster on Sunday as Donald Trump addressed the players and caddies ahead of the final round.
Trump lauded the career of nine-time major champion, Gary Player, who was also in the room and described the South African as a top-three golfer of all-time alongside Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
It was not immediately clear why Al-Rumayyan was in attendance given the PIF pulled future funding from the league in April and the 56-year-old resigned as chairman.
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Though Greg Norman was the public face, Al-Rumayyan was the driving force behind LIV and had absolute authority over the league.
DeChambeau told reporters on Sunday evening: "I think we all found out last night that he [Al-Rumayyan] was going to be out here.
"I think he needed to have some conversations with the president. That was a whole 'nother thing. I'm not going to get involved with that."
He added: "But it was great to see him out here. I think he's done wonders for us and the global game of golf.
"How it moves forward, I think there's a great place for the PIF and where they want to be moving forward.
"Where that is, I'm not exactly sure. I have no idea.
"But I know that he's supported golf for a long, long time, and as this transitions over hopefully into the new investor's hands and into the players' hands, and that's what it's going to be, in the players' hands, we really have an opportunity to align a lot of the global incentives to be a force for good for the game.
"I know that's a lot of wordiness, but we want to bring value to anywhere and everywhere for the game of golf. That's our goal."
DeChambeau also spoke about LIV Golf's new investor, BC Partners, and the relationship it shares with his management company GSE Worldwide.
BC Partners' credit arm made an investment in GSE Worldwide in September 2024.
GSE's clients include DeChambeau, several other LIV Golf players and even PGA Tour star Sam Burns.
Front Office Sports previously reported that GSE Worldwide denied playing any role in helping LIV secure its new backer.
"Look, I love GSE," DeChambeau said. "They’ve been with me my entire career. I think they’ve been fantastic in what they’ve done for me, so all positive things to say about GSE."
DeChambeau said he does not know "the mechanics of the conversations" between the LIV investor and GSE.
He added: "What I can tell you is that the investor, from the conversations I've had, has a new and fresh vision on this product.
"It won’t be changing too much, but it’ll be changing in the right ways.
"He sees the vision. He wants to pursue it even more than what we’ve previously done, and he’s excited, from what I can tell.
"I think, again, if we’re able to get the players all aligned, which I feel like it’ll happen in some capacity, I think it’ll happen, this is going to be a product that will be a force for good in the game, in the ecosystem.
"I think there’s a lot of potential that could be unlocked for the global game of golf, and we can support that.
"But I think the thing we’ve all talked about is how can we be a good force in the ecosystem.
"How can we work together to make the game of golf better.
"So I think that’s what the lead investor … I’m not going to speak for him, but from the conversations I’ve had, we all see that vision alongside Scott [O'Neil].
"I hope that all of us players can see that and we can move forward in a really cool way and be a great force for good in the game of golf."
Ben Smith joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
