US Open champion Wyndham Clark took a pop at Bryson DeChambeau and LIV Golf after the opening round of the Masters.
LIV Golf star DeChambeau grabbed the clubhouse lead at Augusta after a brilliant seven-under-par 65 on Thursday.
Clark, making his first appearance at the iconic course, finds himself eight shots back after a one-over-par 73.
However, when asked about his chances, Clark said: “We’ve got 54 holes. In LIV Golf they only play 54, so I like my chances.
“We’ve got a lot of golf left. As you can see, someone shot 7 under. I could do that tomorrow.”
The world no.4 recently rejected an offer from LIV Golf and explained that the decision was made to protect his legacy.
Former US Open champion DeChambeau, meanwhile, was one of the first big-name golfers to join the controversial breakaway league, which gives out nine-figure contracts with the help of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund [PIF].
LIV Golf has faced criticism for its closed-shop nature and quirky format, using a shotgun start with no cut and 54 holes.
Despite talks between the PGA Tour and the PIF, LIV Golf stars remain banned from the Tour – and they do not get Official World Golf Ranking Points.
Reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm, who defected in December, has even called on the circuit to change its format.
“If there ever was a way where LIV could go to 72 holes I think it would help all of this argument a lot,” the Spaniard said.
“The closer I think we can get LIV Golf to some other things the better. I think it would be for some kind of unification to feed into a world tour or something like that.
“I don’t know if I’m alone in this, but I definitely wouldn’t mind going back to 72 holes.”
DeChambeau has performed well on LIV Golf, winning twice in 2023, and finished T4 at the PGA Championship last year.
The American famously left himself open to ridicule by saying Augusta was a ‘par-67’ for him in 2020 and those comments resurfaced on Thursday.
Speaking after his opening round 65, the American said: “Regarding the 67 comment, you know, You mess up, I’m not a perfect person. Everyone messes up.
“You learn from your mistakes and that was definitely one.”
When asked if his comments proved true today, he said with a grin: “You’re trying to pigeonhole me into saying that again, aren’t you? I’m not going to comment on that.
“Sure, if you want to line the math up that way, that is a perspective you can take. It was a perspective I had, and it cost me a lot of slack, I guess you could say. It definitely hurt some things.
“But look, I’ll say this again. I shot 65 today, and that was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve played in a long time. There’s three more days to go, and I’m not losing sight of that fact.”
News Summary:
- Bryson DeChambeau dug out by Masters rival with LIV Golf jab despite stunning Augusta round
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