[Photo: Jared C Tilton]
In the build-up to the 2025 Ryder Cup, no one has had a bigger target on their back than Bryson DeChambeau. Part of that is DeChambeau’s own doing—he’s done his fair share of trash talking too—but as we wrote yesterday, the chatter directed at the two-time US Open winner has gotten personal.
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In a weekend interview with The Guardian, Rory McIlroy quipped that DeChambeau only mentions himself and Scottie Scheffler when he wants attention. It was a shot across the bow from the European Ryder Cup star. A few hours later, Brandel Chamblee took dead aim.
During a Monday evening monologue on ‘Live From,’ golf’s hot take grandmaster likened DeChambeau to a “circus barker,” questioned the authenticity of his YouTube views and branded him a “captain’s nightmare.”
Needless to say, Bryson stock was at a low ebb on Tuesday morning (Tuesday night AEST), but his US teammates quickly stepped in to help. During their opening press conferences at Bethpage Black, members of the US squad were asked about DeChambeau, and each came to his defence, debunking the theory that DeChambeau is anything but a great competitor to have in the team room. Here’s what they said:
Russell Henley: “I’ve just really enjoyed Bryson … After Greensboro in 2021 maybe, I was leading the tournament, and I choked it away,” Henley said when asked about his embattled teammate. “Two weeks after, I saw him in Baltimore at Caves Valley, and he walked up and said—he goes, hey, man, keep your head up, that happens to everybody, you’re playing some great golf, and just encouraged me. I’ll always remember that.”
Xander Schauffele: “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. 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 sort of 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.”
https://twitter.com/GolfDigest/status/1970483170068857021
J.J. Spaun: “I think what people don’t realise, he’s made a huge effort being a part of this team, flying to team dinners, showing up weeks that he’s playing on the LIV to where we are on the PGA Tour just to be a part of that team, and he’s done a great job. He’s got his own thing going on, and it’s easy for us to get together because we’re all playing week in and week out together.
I think he’s done a huge job of trying to insert himself on this team. Given his personality and his brand, he’s great with the fans. I think that’s going to be a huge attribute to the team this week.”
Scottie Scheffler: “I mean, I think Bryson is a tremendous competitor. 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.”
After Brandel Chamblee called Bryson DeChambeau a "captain's nightmare," Scottie Scheffler praised Bryson, calling him a tremendous competitor and great partner. pic.twitter.com/asXnJt2cGe
— Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) September 23, 2025
US Captain Keegan Bradley: “Yeah, I think Bryson, 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.”
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If there were any questions about DeChambeau’s fit and function within the 2025 US Ryder Cup setup, this should put those to bed until further notice. Obviously, DeChambeau’s teammates aren’t going to come out and agree with Chamblee and McIlroy 72 hours before Friday foursomes begin, but they didn’t have to speak as long, or as thoughtfully, about him as they did. Scheffler even called him a “great guy and good friend. Let’s be honest, we don’t hear the F-word used very often in professional golf these days.”
Schauffele’s response was also telling. If Schauffele is yin, then DeChambeasu is yang. It’s hard to imagine two more different personalities on and off the golf course, but Schauffele recognises the Ryder Cup isn’t the RBC Heritage. It’s not just a different ballgame, it’s practically a different sport. You might even say it’s a circus, and who better to run the show than the “circus barker” himself?
In the end, these quotes won’t change the minds of Chamblee, McIlroy or the countless fans on either side of the pond who find DeChambeau’s schtick a bit tiresome. He’s a lightning rod. Every sport has them. Every sport needs them. But if he can bring a little electricity to a US team that looked deader than an old Duracell in Rome, then the haters will quiet down … for a little while at least.
