The PGA Tour isn\u2019t ready to let bygones be bygones in its feud with LIV Golf, even to the possible detriment of the United States team preparing for the Ryder Cup against the Europeans.<\/p>\n
In preparation for the international showdown at Bethpage Black beginning September 26, 10 of the 12 members of Team USA are competing at the Procore Championship in Napa, where the goal is to build chemistry ahead of the biennial event.<\/p>\n
One of the players missing from the competition is Bryson DeChambeau, who is barred from playing in the PGA Tour event due to his status as a LIV Golf player. The other missing American is Xander Schauffele, whose wife Maya recently gave birth to their first child.<\/p>\n
While Mr. Schauffele\u2019s absence is understandable, the barring of Mr. DeChambeau sends a clear message that LIV golfers are still not welcome on the PGA Tour, whatever the circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s up to the Tour and their decision to make,\u201d Mr. DeChambeau said<\/a> before the tournament. \u201cIt\u2019s on them if they don\u2019t let us come together as a team and play. It\u2019s a scenario that\u2019s unfortunate, and I wish it was different.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite competing for LIV Golf, Mr. DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Open champion, earned enough points <\/a>to be one of the six automatic qualifiers on the team, along with Scottie Scheffler, J.J. Spaun, Russell Henley, Harris English, and Mr. Schauffele.<\/p>\n The American Captain, Keegan Bradley, could have selected himself with one of his six captain\u2019s picks and become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in the 1960s. Instead, Mr. Bradley chose Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa, Ben Griffin, Cameron Young, Patrick Cantlay, and Sam Burns. Mr. Scheffler won the Procore Championship on Sunday.<\/p>\n Mr. DeChambeau isn\u2019t letting being barred from the competition ruin his chance to bond with his Ryder Cup teammates, however. He made the trip to Napa Valley to support them from outside the ropes and attend team dinners, something Mr. Morikawa appreciates.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this whole individual aspect, we\u2019ve all thrown that out the window and we will all do what it takes to be with the team,\u201d he said<\/a>. \u201cSo to have him there, being around the team, hanging out, they\u2019re all positives. The more we can all be together, which we\u2019ve already been, the closer we\u2019re going to be and the more comfortable we\u2019re going to be too.\u201d<\/p>\n The Ryder Cup is operated by the PGA of America, whose annual flagship event is the PGA Championship. The PGA Tour operates its season-long schedule. It has been at odds with LIV Golf since its establishment in 2022 when the league backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia began poaching some of the PGA Tour\u2019s top stars, including Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Mr. DeChambeau.<\/p>\n Although a merger between the two rival leagues has been discussed<\/a>, there are no signs of an agreement coming anytime soon. While several of the LIV golfers have faded from view, Mr. DeChambeau\u2019s following has grown stronger. His wildly popular YouTube channel<\/a> is attracting a young demographic and traditional golf fans enjoy the scientific aspect he brings to the game. He also isn\u2019t afraid to rile up the galleries and talk a little trash.<\/p>\n