Bryson DeChambeau often finds himself in the middle of golf’s viral moments. Sometimes, that’s by design. Other times, it’s based on who he is and the polarizing nature of his place in the professional golf ecosystem.
But where DeChambeau once felt uncomfortable being in the middle of an attention storm that might skew negative (think his rivalry with Brooks Koepka and the heckling that ensued), he is now more comfortable in his own skin. Since the move to LIV Golf, DeChambeau has settled into his role as an occasional lightning rod. Even if the comments that come his way are negative, that’s OK, because, well, attention is currency.
As DeChambeau has embarked on his stated goal to “grow the game” through his YouTube channel, the Crushers frontman has understood that all eyeballs are good eyeballs.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise that when DeChambeau was confronted with Rory McIlroy’s latest jab about his need for attention, he easily shrugged it off as a way to raise the interest level at this week’s Ryder Cup.
“All I’m trying to do is inspire kids on YouTube, and we’ve amassed quite a big audience on YouTube,” DeChambeau told Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis on Monday ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. “I’m continuing to focus on that train of thought. Whatever Rory says and whatnot — granted, I didn’t mean anything by it other than I’m excited. I hope we can have some good banter back and forth, and if not, if he wants to do what he’s doing, great, no problem. Crowd is going to be on our side. We’re going to have a fun time. But ultimately, my job is to get a kid out there who is looking at me hitting a golf ball smiling.
“There’s a rivalry between every one of us golfers. Is it heightened with Rory? Sure. You can make it that way. But look, anytime we go out in the arena, we’re trying to be the best we can possibly be, and if it helps the game of golf out to then great, so be it.”
Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee, who has been consistently critical of every player who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, wasn’t impressed by DeChambeau’s attempt to take the high road with McIlroy. Chamblee pointed out that DeChambeau didn’t really address McIlroy’s comments and just pivoted to his YouTube channel, whose subscription numbers Chamblee doesn’t completely buy.
“I thought it was pretty pointed there when he [was] asked about the retort of Rory, that he didn’t mention the goal this week of a Ryder Cup,” Chamblee said on Golf Channel. “Nope, he didn’t do that. He didn’t talk about playing on a team and how much that meant. Nope, didn’t do that. What he did do was talk about his YouTube channel, which, you know, if we want to talk about the numbers that are generated from that, it’s pretty dubious. I have no doubt bots are generating a lot of those views. There may be some interest as well. But that’s what he wants to talk about. Not the team, not the Ryder Cup.
“It’s one of the reasons why I think he’s going to be such a difficult person to get paired with. No doubt he’s one hell of a golfer. No doubt he has his moments of generosity with fans; I have heard about them. But he’s an odd duck when he’s trying to blend in with the team, and he has so many potential bulletin-board mistakes. I think he would be a captain’s nightmare.”
The idea of DeChambeau being a captain’s nightmare was dismissed by several of his teammates, all of whom praised his talent and all-in, team-first attitude.
As for Chamblee’s shot at his YouTube numbers, DeChambeau, again, was just happy to have what he believes is a lighthearted back-and-forth that increases the eyeballs on the Ryder Cup and golf. Jousting is, after all, entertainment.
“I think it’s great,” DeChambeau said on Thursday at Bethpage Black when asked about Chamblee questioning his viewership numbers. “I think any time that people can throw stuff at me like that, I enjoy it. I appreciate it. I think it’s good for ultimately the game of golf because it starts to spur conversation on. Ultimately, on YouTube, you have to be verified to be able to subscribe and whatnot. So I don’t think it’s really that honest or true. But it is what it is. I mean, any time you can say something like that and create more buzz for the game of golf, it’s great.”
In short, any publicity is good publicity.