Renowned golf analyst bashes LIV Golf star Jon Rahm with brutal 'self delusion' post
LIV Golf critic and Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee hits out at Jon Rahm: "He has many talents but none seem to exceed his gift for self-delusion."
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee has fired shots at Jon Rahm over his "gift for self-delusion" following his shock $600m move to join LIV Golf last season.
Chamblee, a one-time PGA Tour winner, has been a vocal critic of the Saudi-bankrolled LIV Golf League ever since its inception in 2022.
The outspoken golf analyst considers Rahm's money-making move to LIV Golf 12 months ago did little to force the hand of the PGA Tour - but more so Donald Trump's re-election as U.S. President in 2025.
Earlier this month and just weeks after avid golfer Trump was confirmed the next U.S. President, it was soon reported a commercial deal between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) had finally reached completion.
Chamblee's end-of-season review tweet also tackled the subject of apparent declining TV ratings, not something he agrees with accurately heading into the 2025 season.
Scroll down to read Chamblee's tweet...
Chamblee tweeted at length:
"This past year, after Jon Rahm’s defection to LIV in late 2023, the dominos were supposed to fall, forcing the hand of the PGA Tour, a deal between the two tours was presumed to be imminent. Now as a golfer, Rahm has many talents but none seem to exceed his gift for self-delusion. Turns out he was not the impetus to change, although Trump’s election is likely to have more of an impact in that regard, than Rahm’s defection.
"So, the year in professional golf comes to a close much as it began, in limbo, but with many of the critics still beating the same worn out drums.
"A great many pundits in golf are intoxicated with the view that professional golf is in steep decline, primarily basing that assumption on the year-over-year TV ratings of 2024. Indeed, TV ratings give us a point of reference about how a sport is performing relative to years past but using antiquated systems of measurement— in-home-viewers of traditional linear TV—when the viewership and consumption habits have shifted so drastically, is in terms of illumination, more lightning bug than lightning bolt.
"Until we can, with more specificity, gage the number of people, their demographics and how they are consuming the product of the PGA Tour, we cannot speak accurately about whether within the landscape of professional golf there is problem to discuss, or prosperity to celebrate.
"To this end, beginning in 2025 Nielson ratings will include in its TV ratings first-party streaming data, which is roughly speaking, a way to hitherto capture undetected impressions from smart TVs and out-of-home viewing across all devices as well as at bars, restaurants, gyms etc.
"When using this system of measurement, according to Nielson and as reported in Sports Business Journal, when looking back at the last two years, across all media, consumption of the PGA Tour was up 17% in 2023 and up 20% in 2024.
"Perhaps this is why commissioner Jay Monahan was optimistic looking towards 2025 when at the Tour Championship he used aggregate media consumption numbers to put a positive spin on 2024.
"All of this is not to say the professional game doesn’t have its concerns, but I doubt the declining TV ratings paints the most accurate picture of the professional sport.
"Nonetheless, let’s dive into some of the criticisms of the game."
Watched our latest video?
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
