Bryson DeChambeau once held great love and respect for Tiger Woods. In 2022, he expressed excitement about possibly playing with Woods in the Ryder Cup, saying, “It would be an honor to play with him. I think we could have some great chemistry out there and hopefully maybe intimidate some people, that would be nice.” However, after ‘The Scientist’ stepped away from the PGA Tour, their relationship soured. However, fast forward to three years, and DeChambeau is singing a different tune than he did in 2023.
In 2023, after DeChambeau joined LIV Golf, his relationship with Woods quickly soured. During a practice round in Orlando, when someone asked if anyone had cut him off amid the contentious dispute, DeChambeau replied, “Yeah, definitely. I’m sure you can guess who,” later confirming it was Tiger Woods. In 2024, however, during a practice round at Royal Troon, Woods had congratulated DeChambeau on his U.S. Open win. An elated DeChambeau said then, “It is the first communication, but I’ll say he’s a competitor and I have a lot of respect for him.” The updates from them are rare, however.
In 2025, the LIV Golf-PGA Tour deal has changed significantly since 2023, which has made it easier for DeChambeau to acknowledge Woods’ influence on him. While visiting the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to take a lap in a two-seat IndyCar, he shared in an exclusive interview with The Athletic, “any tips in general you’d give for people who are struggling with their game or struggling to stay consistent?” Bryson DeChambeau replied, “It’s finding your bubble, finding your zone. Tiger [Woods] talked about it to me a lot. He said, “You’ve got to build your bubble and nothing enters it. You’re there. You’re fully in control.” I think that’s the same when you’re in the car: You’re in control. You’re right here. You’re right now. Execute. That’s important.”
However, the DeChambeau-Woods duo fans shouldn’t be shocked by this acknowledgement. In 2021, Bryson DeChambeau credited Tiger Woods for providing crucial support through text messages during his narrow victory over Lee Westwood at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. After making a five-foot putt for par on the 18th hole, DeChambeau expressed his thanks, saying, “I got to thank personally Tiger Woods, he helped me out quite a bit today this morning, talking to him from texts.”
One of the best moments of my lifepic.twitter.com/Fe1Pxkh1HF
— Bryson DeChambeau (@brysondech) June 16, 2024
Woods, who was recovering from injuries sustained in a car crash, inspired DeChambeau, especially in the match’s final moments. DeChambeau highlighted Woods’ relentless fighting spirit and noted that the tournament conditions resembled those at the US Open, which helped him feel more comfortable as he faced tough challenges. However, Bryson DeChambeau has always spoken out about mental health, particularly during the Grayson Murray tragedy.
Bryson DeChambeau urged everyone to take mental health seriously
Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, Grayson Murray turned professional in 2015 after enjoying an impressive junior and amateur career. He won three Junior Worlds and made history as the second-youngest player to make the cut in Korn Ferry Tour history at just 16 years old. He was a promising character, more often making headlines for his outbursts than his acts of kindness. Although Murray had always been vocal about his mental health issues and alcohol addiction, it was much later when the golf world found out about his social anxiety. Wrought with depression, Grayson Murray sadly took his own life in May 2024, aged 30.
Murray was a rising star on the PGA Tour, and when the news of his passing came crashing down on the U.S. circuit, it sent a wave of shock among everyone, even Bryson DeChambeau, who claimed to know Murray “pretty well.” Talking about the same during the 2024 LIV Golf Houston, DeChambeau said, “Golf is not a forgiving sport. A lot of pressure is put on you at a young age, especially when you’re good.”
DeChambeau took his own example and mentioned that there have been many instances where he has significantly second-guessed himself. His team has witnessed it, and he has felt it too, especially when he joined LIV while struggling with his game and missing 14 cuts in a row. Talking about the immense pressure the sport places upon its players, DeChambeau said, “The pressure out here is immense. We all have to take our mental health very seriously.”
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