Bryson DeChambeau is calling for forgiveness amid the fallout from Tuesday’s bombshell PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger.
During an interview with CNN, DeChambeau, who signed a four-and-a-half-year deal worth a reported $125 million to defect to LIV in 2022, discussed the outrage directed at the Saudi Arabia-backed outfit from the families of victims and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
On Tuesday, 9/11 Families United, a coalition of families and survivors of the 2001 terrorist attacks carried out by mostly Saudi natives, said in a statement: “The PGA and [commissioner, Jay] Monahan appear to have become just more paid Saudi shills, taking billions of dollars to cleanse the Saudi reputation.”
When asked for his response to that part of the group’s statement, DeChambeau said he believes enough time has passed since the tragedy for those to embrace forgiveness to make the world a better place.
“I think we’ll never be able to repay the families back for what exactly happened just over 20 years ago,” DeChambeau told CNN’s Kaitlin Collins. “And what happened is definitely horrible. I think as time has gone, 20 years have passed and we’re in a place where it’s time to start trying to work together to make things better together as a whole.
“I don’t know exactly what [9/11 families] are feeling. I can’t ever know what they feel, but I have a huge amount of respect for their position and what they believe. Nor do I ever want anything like that to ever occur again.
“I think as we move forward from that, we’ve got to look towards the pathway to peace, especially in forgiveness, especially if we’re trying to mend the world and make it a better place.
“I think this is what they’re trying to accomplish, LIV is trying to accomplish, the PIF is trying to accomplish, we’re all trying to accomplish a better world for everybody and a way to provide great entertainment for everybody around the world.”
Collins went on to ask whether DeChambeau feels uncomfortable knowing the Saudi regime is accused of financing terrorism and allegedly killing Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
“I mean, look, it’s unfortunate what has happened, and that is something I can not necessarily speak on because I’m a golfer,” DeChambeau said. “What I can say is that, what they’re trying to do… is be better allies, because we are allies with them.
“I’m not going to get into the politics of it. I’m not specialized in it. But what I can say is they’re trying to do good for the world and showcase themselves in a light that hasn’t been seen in a while — and nobody is perfect, but we’re all trying to improve in life.”
Everything to know about the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger
PGA Tour and LIV Golf are ending a war — by joining forces.
The two golf leagues, along with the European DP World Tour, are merging into one company after a period of fierce rivalry, one where LIV Golf defectors were banned from competing on the Tour.
LIV, financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund and led by legendary golfer Greg Norman, lured some of the top names in golf last year with reported nine-figure contracts, including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau.
Other huge golf names, however, like Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, stayed loyal to the Tour, despite being offered a massive amount of money.
Follow The Post’s coverage of the PGA Tour-LIV Golf merger
Norman said last year Woods turned down a payday in the range of $700 million-$800 million to stick with the PGA Tour.
With the merger, the Saudi-backed LIV and the Tour are ending an antitrust battle and agreed to end all litigation between the two sides.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love,” PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said in a statement. “This transformational partnership recognizes the immeasurable strength of the PGA TOUR’s history, legacy and pro-competitive model.”
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In the statement, the 9/11 Families United group — which previously sent DeChambeau’s representative a scathing letter accusing him and other LIV players of sportswashing and betraying the United States — said they are “shocked and deeply offended” by the merger.
On Tuesday, the PGA Tour announced it would merge into one company with the LIV Golf league — ending a nearly-two-year battle that divided the sport and its pros.
The merger, which reportedly will take effect in 2024, will also include the European DP World Tour.
DeChambeau told CNN that while he believes the merger is the best thing that could have happened for the game, he feels bad for the players who received “bad information” to stick with the PGA Tour.
“I do feel bad for the PGA Tour players because they were told one thing and something else happened, and on our side, we were told one thing and it’s come to fruition,” DeChambeau said.
“In the end for me, I want the players, the fans and the game of golf to win. … It does stink a little bit from my perspective that the PGA Tour players are not necessarily winning.
“I hope they can find a way to make sure that they are valued in the same way that we are over at LIV. I think that’ll happen. It’s just going to take some time.”
DeChambeau added, “The players are going to experience something a little different, a little new, on the PGA Tour side, but I truly believe in the end, the game of golf wins in this scenario.”
PGA golfer Johnson Wagner said multiple players called for Monahan’s resignation in a meeting that took place Tuesday afternoon, hours after news surfaced of the stunning merger.
Monahan previously backed the families and survivors of 9/11 when they took issue with golfers defecting to LIV in 2022.
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