FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — It’s a new world for Bryson DeChambeau since his last Ryder Cup appearance four years ago.
At Whistling Straits in 2021, he was best known for one U.S. Open victory and his feud with Brooks Koepka. He had his fans and detractors in the classic golf sphere; his YouTube channel had just two videos.
Then he left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022, became something of a villain and began a career evolution into one of the most popular, outgoing figures in golf.
DeChambeau, who’s picked at European rival Rory McIlroy while his fans have congregated at Bethpage Black, will be one of the central personalities of this week’s Ryder Cup.
“Four years ago, I wouldn’t have been as open or ready, I guess you could say, for this moment,” DeChambeau, 32, said Thursday. “… But the experience certainly does help. And hopefully I can use that to the best of my ability and hit some great shots when it matters most.”
DeChambeau was left off the United States team in 2023 that lost in Italy amid a poor run of form, something that’s providing plenty of motivation this week.
“I wanted to be there,” DeChambeau said. “Didn’t play well enough in the majors. Knew what I was up against when I went to LIV. That’s a whole ‘nother conversation. But still wanted to make the team and wasn’t able to. Seeing the guys lose really put a fire in my stomach and wanted to make the team this time around.”
He likened it to missing the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after contracting COVID-19, which he called “a pretty big shot to the heart.”
“Playing in team events my whole entire life, playing in the Walker Cup, World Amateur, numerous other team events, that’s all I wanted to do growing up,” he said. “And then being on the Ryder Cup for a winning team and a losing team, experiencing both the highs and the lows and missing in Rome, this has put something in my stomach that’s kind of made it a mission project for me.”
At 2-3-1 overall and 0-2-0 in foursomes, DeChambeau’s personal Ryder Cup record is a mixed bag, but his massive drives project nicely for Bethpage Black. Besides, captain Keegan Bradley might not need to play DeChambeau in all five sessions for him to leave his mark.
“I view myself as support. … Whether it’s emotionally or leadership, you know, it’s more of just getting people excited and ready to go and pumping people up,” DeChambeau said. “Hopefully giving people some energy, really good energy out there.”
Ryder Cup rookie Ben Griffin was grouped with DeChambeau for practice rounds Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The up-and-comer with the nickname “Benny Booms” joked that he felt good about outdriving DeChambeau a single time this week.
“He’s been awesome to have on this team. He’s a huge asset for us,” Griffin said before referencing DeChambeau’s unique clubs, including irons and wedges all cut to the same length.
“When you’re playing in regular tour events, no one wants to really share much. You kind of stick to your own stuff. So it’s really cool to kind of learn from other guys and how they think their way around golf courses. And yeah, Bryson is just an example of one that’s maybe a little bit more unique than the rest of the teammates.”
At the conclusion of his news conference, DeChambeau headed to the nearby autograph section, standing in the drizzle for 10 minutes. An official began to usher him away to the clubhouse, but DeChambeau stopped to sign for two more kids.
The rows of adults near the back probably had an idea of his journey from amateur to PGA Tour to LIV career. The scores of children up front may have known him best from his YouTube channel, closing in on 2.5 million subscribers.
“I’m not really big into Instagram or the TikTok or Snapchat,” teammate Harris English said. “So when we are at the opening ceremony standing around getting ready to go, he was taking me through all the stuff he does, and that’s kind of a different world that I’m not used to seeing.
“It was cool to get that insight of what he does and his plan of growing the game as much as possible and trying to relate to kids and bringing kids to the game of golf, which I think is really cool.”
As riled up as the fans may get for DeChambeau and his compatriots, it may be equally felt inside the U.S. team room.
“Helping people realize what we are here for, what we are doing, why we are playing this week,” DeChambeau said, “is a top priority for me.”
–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media
