Bryson DeChambeau Opens Up About Harsh Criticism: ‘It’s Hard To Watch’

Bryson DeChambeau is back in action for the first time since ugly missed cut at the 2026 PGA Championship. Ahead of this week’s LIV Golf Korea event, and amid ongoing speculation about LIV Golf’s future, two-time major winner offered extensive commentary on where his game stands and LIV’s push for new investors.

In addition to revealing the simplest and “best” way he can contribute to LIV Golf’s survival, DeChambeau opened up about the “harsh” criticism he’s received recently and how that criticism has affected him personally, as well as his future plans.

DeChambeau reveals how he can help LIV survive: ‘Giving everything I can’

DeChambeau has spoken frequently since Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund chose to withdraw future funding from LIV Golf.

Sometimes, DeChambeau has flirted with the idea of ​​a PGA Tour comeback. Often in the same response, he has raised the idea of ​​giving up pro golf and becoming a full-time YouTube creator.

But on Monday at the LIV Golf Korea 2026 event in Busan, South Korea, DeChambeau seemed fully on board with helping LIV Golf secure its future existence.

He revealed he was “surprised” by PIF’s decision to abandon LIV Golf so unexpectedly, but he also expressed “optimism” in LIV’s business model.

“We were surprised that (PIF) backed out as quickly as they did. “But that’s OK. One door closes, another opens. I think that’s the way a lot of us are looking at it. I think we are all optimistic that there is a business plan that makes sense for team golf. I will honestly say actually – how do I say it? I’m very bullish on the golf team’s business plan compared to other models, in my opinion.”

“But again, other models have worked as well, so I’m not going to say one is better than the other, but I see value in what team golf can provide not only around the world, but in the grassroots of the game of golf,” he continued. “The national support, the national support of the team, the local support of the city, we root ourselves there. There are some ideas that we have – a lot of ideas that we have that could be interesting.”

While DeChambeau was talking about LIV Golf’s team format, and how it could be attractive to fans and financially successful, LIV Golf’s current business plan is simple: find big money investors fast or go out of business. Bryson talked about that too.

“We’ll see if investors like it or not,” he said. “I’m giving everything I can to make it happen, and if it doesn’t happen, it won’t happen.”

Asked specifically how Bryson can help LIV Golf in its mission to find new funding, DeChambeau said “ultimately it’s up to the executives,” while his most important roles are to play his best this week, sign autographs and “have a good time.”

“I go out there in the first group on Thursday and have a nice ride down the middle of the fairway, hopefully. That’s what we’re focused on. In the background, yes, we’re trying to help where we can, but at the end of the day it’s up to the drivers and everyone coming together. If we all come together, there’s an opportunity here. If not, it’s going to be a different day.” “But for me, how I support it, I go out and have a great drive on the first tee, play a great round of golf, sign autographs afterwards and have a good time.”

Bryson DeChambeau thanks ‘harsh’ critics for igniting ‘positive fire’

DeChambeau was a disruptive figure in pro golf long before LIV Golf arrived. When he gave the fledgling league its biggest boost by joining in 2022, criticism mounted.

LIV Golf’s recent funding issues and his sometimes outlandish and contradictory comments about his future plans have resulted in more criticism of DeChambeau. Missed cuts in the first two races of the year have not helped Bryson’s case.

When asked how he handles such an onslaught of negativity at his press conference at LIV Golf Korea, DeChambeau spoke at length, declaring his “respect” for everyone’s opinion, even if those opinions conclude that he is “the worst thing about golf.”

“I respect everybody’s opinion of me. I respect everybody who says I’m the worst thing about golf or I’m the best thing about golf. That’s OK,” DeChambeau said.

He went on to explain that the criticism doesn’t “distract” him from his larger “mission” to help the game and that he cares about golf so much because he’s seen “what it can do for people’s lives.”

“The reality is that I’m so focused on what I can do for the game that someone saying something online or to me personally to my face is not going to distract me from the mission that I have,” DeChambeau explained. “I hope I understand that, that my goal is bigger than just winning every tournament every week. Do I want to win every week? 100 percent. Do I ever care about the game more than my life? Yes. Because I see what it can do for people’s lives. That’s ultimately why I care so much and I’m so passionate and I want the best for everyone.”

DeChambeau also thanked his critics because while he admitted that the criticism is “hard to watch,” it also gives him “inspiration” and helps him make decisions in his life.

“So when people say these things about me, I know my mission. I know what I’m here to do. Sometimes it’s hard to see, but sometimes it’s an inspiration for me. It sparks positive fire in my stomach. I honestly have to thank everyone because it’s what helps me make the next decision in my life, in a positive way. It’s never a negative,” he said. “I never try to do things regardless or without caring about things or people or anyone else. The other side, this side, doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, we’re just playing golf. We’re just hitting a ball 450 yards away, sometimes longer.”

He continued: “I think people like to say something and you have to respect that. I think everyone’s opinion is valid. All I can do is continue to be the best every day that I can, whether I win tournaments here, win majors or not finish last here. It doesn’t matter to me, as long as I’m working as hard as I can, that’s really what matters is that I can and give as much as I can.

“Hopefully I can look over and see a kid looking at me smiling so I can go sign an autograph because that’s what keeps me coming back every day.”

The LIV Golf Korea 2026 event starts this Thursday. DeChambeau gets his next chance to snap his big losing streak in a few weeks at 2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hillswhere he will be looking for the third title.

“I’m very excited about the future at Shinnecock and beyond, as well as the Open Championship,” DeChambeau said to close out his press conference. “Bend down, keep moving forward.”