Bryson DeChambeau sends public challenge to Tiger Woods after years of silent treatment

Bryson DeChambeau is pushing for a crossover between golf’s two biggest team events: LIV Golf and TGL.

More specifically, the two-time major winner wants his Crushers GC to take on Tiger Woods‘ Jupiter Golf Links in a made-for-tv showdown.

Getty

DeChambeau was speaking ahead of LIV Golf‘s upcoming event in South Africa, having just won his first title of the season in Singapore.

Earlier this week, an injured Woods watched on as his Jupiter team took down Rory McIlroy’s Boston Common to book their place in the final of TGL.

“I guess we’re an individual sport – I understand that,” DeChambeau said.

“But we do play team events. We’ve got the Ryder Cup. We’ve got the Presidents Cup. There should be something else. Why not?”

He added: “I do think there’s an opportunity in the future for team golf to be next to the forefront of golf, even with the majors and whatnot.

“But imagine a scenario where we’re going up against Jupiter Links on an 18-hole showcase, 4 vs. 4, going up against each other on a Netflix show or something, or whoever wants to put it on a show.

“How about the Crushers go up against Jupiter Links in an 18-hole match, 4 vs. 4 stroke play. We can just call them out right now and say, ‘Let’s go. Let’s do it.’

“That would be fun. Show them who’s the best, who’s the best team in the world.”

Team golf on the rise

Team golf has become increasingly relevant following years of calls to capitalise on the popularity of the Ryder Cup.

LIV Golf uses a similar format to Formula 1 – with an individual and team competition running alongside each other simultaneously.

Getty

And TGL – the indoor golf league created by Woods and McIlroy – has six teams competing with no individual elements.

Last year, DeChambeau featured in a ‘LIV Golf vs PGA Tour‘ match, taking on McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler alongside Brooks Koepka.

“There’s always been rivalries, like Brooks and I and even Rory and I,” DeChambeau said. “There’s a bit of that there. But what I’m saying is we’re all competitive.

“One way to do that, since there’s already internal built-up rivalries in the game right now, whether it’s the PGA [Tour] or LIV or TGL and LIV, let’s give the fans what they want. It’s time. It’s been too long.”

Woods and DeChambeau’s rivalry

The two golfing titans were once close friends, featuring in Bridgestone adverts together and bonding over their nerdy love for the game.

However, in 2023, DeChambeau revealed that Woods had cut off all communication following his defection from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf.

Getty

DeChambeau said: “Yeah, I’m not going to throw anyone under the bus. He’s been a great friend. I texted him on his birthday. It is what it is.

“He has his viewpoints on it and thinks we’re potentially hurting his record. If anything, nobody is ever going to touch his record. That’s just it, that’s the bottom line.

“There’s a chance to grow the game even more and I hope one day he’ll see the vision that we all have out here.”

Woods did reach out at The Open in 2024 to congratulate DeChambeau on his victory at the US Open.

Woods to return for the Masters?

The pair could be reunited at Augusta next month with five-time Masters winner Woods still contemplating a comeback after more than a year on the sidelines.

When asked for an update on Tuesday, the 50-year-old said: “I’ve been working on it.

“Sometimes I have good days, sometimes I have bad days. Disk replacement is not a lot of fun.

“So as I said, I’ve had a lot of procedures prior to that, so the body doesn’t quite heal like it was when I was 24. Doesn’t quite bounce back.

“So I have good days when I can pretty much do anything, and other days where it’s hard to just to move around.”