Since LIV Golf’s first event in 2022, the PIF-backed league has done plenty of work to be considered one of the best tours on the planet. While their journey to becoming the best hasn’t been completed yet, a 1x PGA Tour winner used Bryson DeChambeau to take an indirect dig at the Saudi-based league.

On December 29, Smylie Kaufman appeared on The Smylie Show, where he said something that LIV Golf and its fans probably wouldn’t appreciate. The American first spoke about Bryson DeChambeau and showered praise on the 2-time US Open winner.

However, immediately after doing that, Kaufman discussed Brooks Koepka and mentioned that he had departed from LIV Golf due to the lack of competition. Kaufman said:

“He [Bryson DeChambeau] is the show over at LIV Golf. It is all about Bryson over there. I think most of that attention, it will be on him early, but if he’s not playing good golf, it kind of goes away a little bit on the PGA Tour. On LIV, every day, he is the main attraction.” [19:27 onwards]

“…when am debating these two, I think Brooks is bothered by the lack of competition that he feels and that sense of competing against the best. Bryson, I don’t think he’s bothered by it quite as much…”

Take a look at the full clip on The Smylie Show’s YouTube Channel:

Smylie Kaufman, indirectly saying that LIV Golf “lacks competition,” might not be a good look for the Scott O’Neil-led league. In the past as well, LIV has faced criticism for a lack of competition, and a golfer of Kaufman’s caliber saying something like this only adds to the image that LIV wouldn’t want fans to believe.

However, while Kaufman might have used Bryson DeChambeau to take an indirect dig at the Saudi PIF-backed golf league, he has often spoken highly of DeChambeau and his game in the past.

When Smylie Kaufman credited LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau for being a “great golfer”

During an NBC Sports Group Media Conference from June 2024, Smylie Kaufman, Brandel Chamblee, and Jim “Bones” Mackay were asked about their takes on Bryson DeChambeau’s impact on the game.

Kaufman praised the LIV icon for impacting the sport, with his popularity and habit of expressing emotions while competing. He said (quoted via ASAP Text):

“Bryson really brings energy, brings youth to the game. His social channels have absolutely blown up. I think he’s brought a very big audience…”

“The fact that really he wears his heart on his sleeve out on the golf course… he is not afraid to show a little emotion… It’s great for TV. I really think Bryson is a great golfer and also a bit of a TV star.”

Apart from this instance, Kaufman has also commented on Bryson DeChambeau’s golfing skills. In another interview in 2024, he lauded The Scientist’s driving abilities, especially the direction and the way the LIV Golf icon’s drives shaped the ball flight.