11 February 2024 , 17:10
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Brandel Chamblee believes fines and suspensions should be forthcoming for LIV Golf players before they can play PGA Tour events.
Chamblee, 61, is an outspoken critic of the league and its funding by Saudi Arabia 's sovereign wealth fund, controlled by the kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Last year alone, the Golf Channel analyst accused Greg Norman of ruining Cam Smith's career by having him sign with the series.
Months later, he called for Phil Mickelson 's removal from the World Golf Hall of Fame after the American "caused irreparable damage to the game" by joining LIV Golf. However, he is seemingly open to players returning to the Tour, but only if they pay a price for their actions.
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"They should have to sit out for a period of time, pay fines and when they come back, support/play in only non-signature events for as long as they played for LIV," he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. These comments build on those by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler at the WM Phoenix Open.
He claimed Wednesday on the Golf Channel that LIV golfers "definitely shouldn't be able to come back without any sort of contribution to the tour." He also highlighted the "different levels" of defections.
"You had some guys that left our tour and then sued our tour," Scheffler recalled. "That wasn't really in great taste," before adding: "There should be some sort of caveat to them getting back on our Tour."
Chamblee has several punishments for LIV golfers to serve before being able to play on the Tour again"I think that if they want a pathway back, there should be one, but it definitely shouldn't just be coming back in the first week they want to come back and play."
If Chamblee's suggestion that returnees must miss signature events for as long as they were away, then it would be bad news for Mickelson. He, for example, would effectively be banned from the limited-field events for around two years after first applying for a release from the Tour in April 2022.
Other early adopters, including Charl Schwartzel, Dustin Johnson, Graeme McDowell, Henrik Stenson, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer and Sergio Garcia, would be among the worst affected.
Chamblee and Scheffler's opposition to LIV golfers receiving straightforward routes back to PGA events is a stance the likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler share. But Rory McIlroy, notably, is no longer among that growing group.
“I think it’s hard to punish people. I don’t think there should be a punishment,” he surprisingly said last month. "If people still have eligibility on this tour and they want to come back and play or you want to try and do something, let them come back.
"I've changed my tune (after previously being an outspoken critic) on that because I see where golf is, and I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties."