US Ryder Cup players reveal secret weapon that could ‘be the difference’ at Bethpage
Published:
He missed out on the 2023 Ryder Cup defeat but Bryson DeChambeau is back for Team USA and could be the man to lead the charge for the hosts in New York.
There are few characters in golf quite like Bryson DeChambeau. The big-hitting American not only plays the game his own way, but he also appears to do things off the course a little differently.
DeChambeau, who is a two-time US Open champion, is the only member of Team USA that plays in the LIV Golf League. He is also the only player on Keegan Bradley’s side who devotes countless hours to social media and YouTube golf.
After once struggling to connect with golf fans, he has now built an army of followers.
So could that, coupled with his devastating ability, work in the favour of the hosts as they seek to wrestle the Ryder Cup back in front of what is expected to be a raucous crowd at Bethpage?
His teammates certainly think so.
“When you look at Ryder Cups and how they shake down, it can kind of seem very different or distant at times when you win or lose one,” Xander Schauffele said, when asked how big DeChambeau’s impact could be.
“But I was telling Keegan, I feel like Bryson could be like the difference for us in a strange way from the standpoint of feeding into these fans, the style of golf he plays.
“And also how… like you’ll get me, I’ll make a putt, and you won’t see too much of a reaction. That’s just who I am. That’s kind of how I operate. Maybe it might change this week, who knows. These Ryder Cups bring out the best in you at times.
“But Bryson is like, this is his arena. If he views himself as a gladiator golfer, this is as good as it gets.
“He’s been awesome. He’s been awesome in the team room. I’m excited to see what he can do, and hopefully get a lot of points up on the board because his points might hit harder than maybe my points, for example, just because of how he might celebrate and get these fans into this tournament quickly.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler echoed Schauffele’s sentiments, praising DeChambeau for being a good partner to him in 2021 and calling for him to be “unleashed” at Bethpage.
“I think Bryson is a tremendous competitor,” Scheffler said. “He’s a great partner as well. I partnered with him in 2021 at Whistling Straits and he was a tremendous guy to be out to be golf course with.
“He’s a great guy and a good friend and he’s been great in our team room. Like I said, he brings a lot of energy, the people love him and I think he loves the opportunity to be able to represent his country.
“He’s a multiple-time US Open winner, and that means a lot to him. Being an American I think means a lot to him as well. I’m excited to kind of unleash him this week.
Bryson brings an ‘X-factor’
Much is always made of DeChambeau wherever he plays. He garners attention like few others, but he seems to thrive on it.
Such is his profile, as the members of Team USA continued to file into the press conference room at Bethpage, the questions on DeChambeau continued to be asked.
Captain Bradley heaped praise on how DeChambeau has integrated with his teammates and said he brings an “X-factor” to the hosts.
“This is a tough thing for him, to come into guys that he doesn’t see every day, full of PGA Tour players, but he’s done an exceptional job of making the extra effort, flying to Napa, flying to Atlanta, doing things that are really difficult with the schedule that he has.
“He’s made every effort possible and been incredible in the team room. I think Bryson, just his golfing ability alone is an X-factor for our team, but also, he’s a really fiery player. When you come to a Ryder Cup, you don’t want guys to try to be something they’re not.
“We have a lot of calm, mellow guys, so we need the energy from Bryson, and he brings that every day in practice rounds, in the team room, and hopefully in the tournament competition too.”
-
A number of the US Ryder Cup players believe Bryson DeChambeau is the key to their success this week.
