Tuesday's news of a merger between the PGA and LIV golf tours has created an outpouring of social media reactions not only from the media and fans, but also from the players themselves.
One recurring name among emerging trends is that of Brandel Chamblee of NBC's Golf Channel. The former PGA golf pro has been an outspoken critic of the breakaway LIV circuit, claiming it to be nothing more than an attempt by the Saudi Arabian government to "sportswash" its history of human rights violations.
Chamblee hasn't been quiet in his criticism against LIV Golf and the players who defected there from the PGA, calling out the tour and its golfers. It wasn't a surprise, then, to see LIV's Brooks Koepka — who became the first player on the tour to win a major, at the 2023 PGA Championship — take a shot at the broadcaster:
MORE: LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger winners and losers
Koepka's tweet is just the latest development in what has largely been a bitter back-and-forth between Chamblee and LIV's supporters, including Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed. Here's everything you need to know about his criticism of the tour and, more pointedly, its financial backers:
Why did Brooks Koepka tweet about Brandel Chamblee?
Koepka took a shot at Chamblee as part of an ongoing feud between the Golf Channel sportscaster and the LIV Tour. Chamblee has been one of the most vocal critics against the Saudi-backed tour and its golfers, to the point several of its supporters have lobbed verbal barbs at him.
Indeed, LIV defector Patrick Reed named Chamblee in a $750 million lawsuit that claims he and Golf Channel attempted to defame him for his association with the tour. The filing purports Chamblee's comments cost him "multiple multi-million dollar sponsorship deals."
What did Brandel Chamblee say about LIV Golf?
Chamblee has claimed numerous times that LIV is merely part of an attempt by Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud (MBS) to hide the country's history of human rights violations (including the 2018 assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi).
The Golf Channel broadcaster said as much in a May 31 tweet:
MORE: Why LIV Golf, PGA Tour joined forces
Chamblee reiterated his stance on June 2 after Mickelson — one of LIV's most notable headliners — claimed he had an "obsession" with him and the tour. The former claimed he attempted to debate Mickelson's alliance with the tour, which he reportedly turned down.
Mickelson, for what it's worth, tweeted that Tuesday's news was part of a "great day" with a smiling emoji:
The PGA and LIV may have officially ended their litigation, but it's clear from Koepka's tweet — and similar responses — that there has been no love lost between Chamblee and the Saudi-backed tour.