LIV Golf rebel Bryson DeChambeau has made a heartfelt plea to fans, urging them to give the controversial tour a shot.

The 30-year-old American promised they’ll be hooked for life if they just visit one event, and encouraged them not to judge the tour until they’d experienced it for themselves.

Since its launch in 2021 with the backing of Saudi Arabian wealth, LIV Golf has been mired in controversy, having drawn players away from the PGA Tour with massive contracts, thus shaking up the traditional golfing landscape. This shift has seen many top players defect to LIV Golf, sparking debates about the future and integrity of the sport.

But speaking ahead of a LIV event in Houston, Texas, DeChambeau appealed to locals to come down to watch, telling them to “keep an open mind”.

“I think the first thing that I would say is try to keep an open mind just for one day,” he told reporters. “Come out here one day with an open mind I think you’ll be a fan for life.”

Echoing DeChambeau’s sentiments, fellow LIV golfer Martin Kaymer emphasized the importance of first-hand experience before forming opinions: “You can only have an opinion about something you have experienced,” he stressed.

“Going back to the PGA Championship, I talked to a lot of people about LIV. I asked them, ‘Have you ever watched or been to an event? ‘ And some of them said, ‘No, but I don’t like it’. And I said, ‘Listen. I’ve never watched a cricket game, but I would never say I like it or I dislike it because I don’t know.

🏌🏻‍♂️🙌 Bryson DeChambeau asks fans to come out and watch LIV Golf Houston: “Come out here for one day, I think you’ll be a fan for life.”@livgolf_league | @Crushers_GC pic.twitter.com/sk1nwuVMap

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) June 5, 2024

“So as Bryson said, I would encourage people to come out and for the day to experience it for themselves. If they like it, great. If they don’t like it, that’s OK too.”

Last year, reports of a potential merger between LIV Golf and the PGA were rife, and although there’s been a collaboration between the two tours – with LIV golfers allowed to compete in this year’s Masters and PGA Championship, for example – both are expected to remain separate entities for the time being.