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Bryson DeChambeau doesn’t sound thrilled about the PGA Tour upholding its suspension ahead of the Ryder Cup.
When Bryson DeChambeau left for LIV Golf in 2022, it came with a suspension from the PGA Tour. That ban is still intact, and that’s probably not going to change anytime soon — Ryder Cup or not.
So, when the Tour reportedly ruled to uphold its ban despite hopes from Team USA that he’d be able to join the team for a tune-up at the PGA Tour’s Procore Championship in September, DeChambeau’s response was short and civil — but pointed.
“It’s on them,” he told Sports Illustrated.
PGA Tour Won’t Bend Rules for Bryson, Team USA
Team USA captain Keegan Bradley confirmed at the BWM Championship that a handful of American players, including Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele, would head to Napa to play the Procore as a tune-up for the late-September Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. Even Bradley seemed a bit miffed that the PGA Tour wouldn’t bend the rules.
DeChambeau sounded a little peeved by it, too, when talking to Sports Illustrated at LIV Golf Indianapolis.
“That’s up to the Tour and their decision to make,” DeChambeau told SI. “It’s on them if they don’t let us become together as a team and play.”
DeChambeau apparently came close to further criticizing the Tour but thought better of it.
“That just shows you … yeah, I’m not gonna say that,” he continued, per SI. “Yeah, it’s a scenario that’s unfortunate, and I wish it was different, but LIV’s willing to let me play.”
Earlier in the same day, Bradley expressed a similar frustration.
“That’s out of my control. … I thought the Ryder Cup transcends all of this,” he told Sports Illustrated.
Why PGA Tour Is Sticking to Bryson Ban
Credit to Team USA for trying, but it’s important to remember there are some important caveats with the entire situation. The catch: The PGA Tour doesn’t actually run the Ryder Cup. That’s the PGA of America’s domain, so even if Team USA wanted DeChambeau at the Procore, the Tour has final say on who’s eligible to tee it up in its events.
That could ultimately change, though, as The Guardian reported in April.
“(PGA Tour Enterprises) is seriously considering an offer to take part ownership of the United States element of the Ryder Cup,” The Guardian’s Ewen Murray wrote. “That domain is controlled by the PGA of America, which also runs the US PGA Championship. Any such deal would cost PGA Tour Enterprises hundreds of millions of dollars.”
But that’s not the case, at least not yet, so DeChambeau — who willingly left the Tour for a reported $125 million to join LIV — is more or less out of luck.
Why Ryder Cup Tuneup Is Important to Bradley, Team USA
Team USA seems intent on not making the same mistake twice. The Americans were on the wrong end of a European beatdown in 2023 at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome. A number of factors contributed to that, but a layoff between the FedEx Cup and the Ryder Cup for Americans was a big culprit.
“Who on earth in their right mind thinks the best way to prepare for a Ryder Cup is to take five weeks off?” Sky Sports commentator and former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart said in 2023, per Golf Digest ” … Nine of the 12 American players took five weeks off. That’s disgraceful.”
This time around, it appears at least one of the Americans will have a lengthy layoff before heading to Long Island.
Mike Cole Mike Cole covers golf as well as the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans for Heavy.com. He previously worked at NESN where he covered Boston sports (and much more) for 15 years. More about Mike Cole
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