The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV Golf merger has mostly remained calm—until now. Tensions escalated when PGA Tour golfer Wesley Bryan was suspended for participating in “The Duels,” a LIV Golf-affiliated event in Miami that paired professional golfers with content creators. Bryan teamed up with Dustin Johnson for the YouTube-hosted event on Grant Horvat’s channel, which quickly amassed over 2 million views in just 10 days.
Wesley Bryan has been officially confirmed as being suspended by the PGA Tour for playing in “The Duels” creator event hosted by LIV Golf.
Other creators were also threatened, but the threats were withdrawn and Grant Horvat has now been invited to play a PGA Tour event. https://t.co/hsNOTTXvsW
— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) April 16, 2025
Shortly after the video went live, Bryan, the 2017 RBC Heritage champion and a regular PGA Tour presence, was suspended. Golf insider Ryan French confirmed the news via social media, stating that he spoke to Bryan about the suspension, his feelings about the event, and what lies ahead.
The incident has drawn strong reactions, particularly from Phil Mickelson, who used it as an opportunity to again criticize the PGA Tour’s leadership. Mickelson has long accused the Tour of using coercive tactics and operating without checks. He questioned the legality of suspending an independent contractor like Bryan and called on the Department of Justice to step in.
Further controversy arose from reports that the PGA Tour had warned content creators not to participate in “The Duels,” threatening future bans. While those threats were supposedly rescinded for others, Bryan remains banned for one year. This has led to accusations of unfair targeting and hypocrisy.
Despite the setback, Bryan has maintained a positive outlook. Though he’s missing out on this year’s Corales Puntacana Championship—a tournament where he placed second last year—he’s in the Dominican Republic with his family for a pre-planned vacation. He expressed gratitude for his career so far and hopes to appeal the decision, making it clear that he believes his actions were not wrong. He also voiced his continued support for YouTube Golf and its growth potential.
The incident has reignited debate over player freedoms, content creation in golf, and the balance of power within the sport. Now, many are left wondering—was the PGA Tour’s move justified, or was it an overreach?