Bryson DeChambeau has become the first LIV Golf player to automatically qualify for the US Ryder Cup team, securing his spot in Keegan Bradley’s squad.
To be fair, DeChambeau was already a lock for the team regardless of how things played out in the weeks leading up to the BMW Championship. Bradley had even mentioned during The Open that DeChambeau would be part of the lineup.
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Still, it’s worth recognising just how impressive it is that he qualified automatically, especially since he could only pick up points at major events.
But there is a timing issue for Bryson. The final event on LIV Golf’s schedule is coming up this week, with Michigan set to host the Team Championship.
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Bradley is hoping to see as many of his players as possible take part in the Procore Championship in September. The US team is keen to avoid repeating the mistakes of 2023, when many of Zach Johnson’s squad arrived in Rome underprepared after a long break from competitive play.
DeChambeau no longer holds PGA Tour membership, making it highly unlikely he’ll be able to compete in Napa.
DeChambeau expressed his frustration with the PGA Tour for not granting him access, but there hasn’t been much support for his position.
Dan Rapaport addressed the issue on Dan on Golf, arguing that the PGA Tour has no obligation to accommodate DeChambeau simply because he’s preparing for Bethpage.
“So Bryson DeChambeau was asked this week about not being allowed to play in the Napa PGA Tour event. He said: ‘it’s on them if they don’t let us come together as a team and play. It’s a scenario that’s unfortunate and I wish it was different, but LIV’s willing to let me play’. And I have been very complimentary of Bryson recently, but we have to call things like we see it, this is like that BS victim narrative. Decisions have consequences,” he said.
“The PGA Tour is under no obligation to let you play because you made the Ryder Cup team. It seems so open and closed. And it’s like: ‘I’m willing to do it, I’m willing to do it’, but you knew that your decision was going to come with ramifications.”
“There are rules, there are leagues. And also nothing is stopping him from going to Napa and hanging out with the team. You can still bond and be together as a team.” Rapaport added.
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Bradley is hoping to get as many of his players as possible to play at the Procore Championship in September. The US team is looking to avoid repeating the mistakes of 2023, when many of Zach Johnson’s players hadn’t played competitively for weeks before heading to Rome.
DeChambeau, though, isn’t a PGA Tour member anymore, and that means it’s highly unlikely he’ll be able to play in Napa.
He’s voiced his frustration with the PGA Tour over their decision not to let him participate, but there hasn’t been much support for his position.
Speaking on Dan on Golf, Dan Rapaport backed the PGA Tour’s decision not to make an exception for DeChambeau just because he needs preparation time for Bethpage.
“So Bryson DeChambeau was asked this week about not being allowed to play in the Napa PGA Tour event. He said: ‘it’s on them if they don’t let us come together as a team and play. It’s a scenario that’s unfortunate and I wish it was different, but LIV’s willing to let me play’. And I have been very complimentary of Bryson recently, but we have to call things like we see it, this is like that BS victim narrative. Decisions have consequences,” he said.
“The PGA Tour is under no obligation to let you play because you made the Ryder Cup team. It seems so open and closed. And it’s like: ‘I’m willing to do it, I’m willing to do it’, but you knew that your decision was going to come with ramifications. And also it’s like, ‘I’m going to blame the US Am for not letting me play’ – I didn’t qualify, I’m not in the field, but I’m going to blame them for not letting me play. Would LIV let all the PGA Tour guys play if they just wanted to play?”
This isn’t uncharted territory for DeChambeau either – he has three previous appearances at what is now known as the Procore Championship.
After missing the cut in his debut back in 2017 – which was then known as Safeway Open – he came back with two top-20 finishes in 2018 (17th) and again in 2020 (22nd).
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