Ryder Cup week is upon us, and the narratives surrounding Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and co. will be rich as they descend on New York.
McIlroy, in particular, will be pivotal if Europe are to pull off an unlikely win on away soil, which would be their first since 2012 and only their second this century.
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The Grand Slam champion was the standout player during Europe’s victory in Rome in 2023, a weekend that was defined in part by his infamous clash with Patrick Cantlay and caddie Joe LaCava.
Cantlay is not the only man on this year’s US team that McIlroy has had bad blood with in the past, with the box office Bryson DeChambeau standing out as the prime contender to share some fireworks with McIlroy this weekend.
McIlroy and DeChambeau’s relationship has become increasingly frosty since their dramatic showdown at the 2024 US Open. Earlier this year, DeChambeau frustratedly claimed McIlroy refused to speak to him during their final round at the Masters.
“I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people,” McIlroy said when asked about DeChambeau ahead of the Ryder Cup.
“That is basically what I think of that. To get attention, he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.”
Ahead of the Ryder Cup, one of the most recognisable American golf broadcasters has launched a stunning rant backing up Rory McIlroy’s comments on DeChambeau’s character.
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Rory McIlroy’s Bryson comments backed up by American broadcaster
Appearing on NBC’s preview show ahead of the Ryder Cup this weekend, Brandel Chamblee launched a remarkable rant against Bryson DeChambeau, saying that the three-time Major winner was a true “captain’s nightmare.”
Chamblee said that Rory McIlroy had hit the nail on the head with his comments, saying that DeChambeau’s attitude was rotten for a team event, and that he would be a difficult player to be partnered with:
I thought it was pretty poignant there, when he was asked about the retort of Rory, that he didn’t mention the goal this week of a Ryder Cup. He didn’t do that, he didn’t talk about playing on a team and how much that meant, nope.
What he did do was talk about his YouTube channel which…if we want to talk about the numbers that are generated from that, it’s pretty dubious. I’ve no doubt that bots are generating a lot of those views. There may be some interest as well.
But that’s what he wants to talk about. Not the team, not the Ryder Cup. It’s one of the reasons why he’s going to be one of the most difficult people to get paired with. No doubt, he’s one hell of a golfer. No doubt he has his moments of generosity with fans, I’ve heard about them.
But he’s an odd duck when he’s trying to blend in with a team, and he has so many potential bulletin board mistakes. I think he would be a captain’s nightmare.
Bryson DeChambeau’s YouTube channel and online presence have gained him a significant number of new fans, but it’s clear they are not the most popular among some in US golfing spheres.
There is no denying that DeChambeau plays his role as a pantomime villain excellently, and any potential clash with Rory McIlroy will be box office at Bethpage.
However, his attitude is certainly beginning to rankle those around the American team.
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