Team USA just can’t seem to catch a break. Before a single shot has even been struck at Bethpage Black, the headlines have been about everything but the golf. First it was the merchandise, then the questionable outfit choices at the Gala, and now the focus has shifted to Bryson DeChambeau, a lightning rod for scrutiny wherever he goes. Yet what’s been just as striking as the criticism is the way his teammates have closed ranks around him. Even Amanda Balionis, who’s been busy with NFL coverage this offseason amid health struggles, has stepped in to show her support to the team. 

Taking to Instagram, she posted a story that many fans may not have seen coming: a surprise visit to the Ryder Cup at the Bethpage Black course. The first update was seemingly casual– just her posing in front of the Ryder Cup logo wall. But then more stories started rolling out: video of her riding in a cart with Olivia Mascatello, a Ryder Cup 2025 credential hanging from her neck, and a snap alongside CBS colleague Hally Lead captioned “First stop: checking in on @hallylead at the @tmobile Club Magenta.” It was a telling sign that more was to come from Balionis. 

“Stop 2: stopping in to squeeze my @workday_sports fam,” read the next story. Then, with a cheeky grin, she announced, “That’s a wrap from the course! Onto stop #3..” She posed with fans and took some more pictures. By the time the spree of posts was over, it was clear Balionis wasn’t just dropping by, she was back in the thick of Ryder Cup just hours after publicly backing Bryson DeChambeau. 

Brandel Chamblee used his Golf Channel Live From platform to sharply criticize DeChambeau’s priorities heading into the Ryder Cup. He referred to DeChambeau as a “circus-barker,” arguing that his talk of YouTube and self-promotion overshadowed his commitment to the team. Chamblee even questioned the legitimacy of DeChambeau’s digital metrics, suggesting that bots might be inflating his viewership numbers.

One could argue that this criticism has its roots in the kind of public persona DeChambeau has created for himself. Yet, during a recent press conference, Scottie Scheffler emerged as the LIV golfer’s strongest defender. Scheffler said, “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 on the golf course with.” During the debut season, Scheffler and DeChambeau paired together and won against Tommy Fleetwood and Viktor Hovland, while halving the match against Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.

Furthermore, Xander Schauffele described DeChambeau as a “gladiator golfer,” arguing that his style could galvanize fans and become a leverage point for Team USA. Even captain Keegan Bradley and other teammates have commended how much effort DeChambeau has made to bridge the gap by flying in to team dinners, participating in bonding sessions, and emphasizing that his personality strengthens the squad. 

Balionis later shared a story of Schauffele praising DeChambeau and wrote, “I’m loving how Team USA is rallying around Bryson and fighting the external narrative. Chemistry and unity are high this year, and it’s cool to see.” Yet, despite the support pouring in from his team, the remarks Chamblee made on his podcast were quite sharp. 

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The golf commentator’s spree against Bryson DeChambeau

Chamblee talked about Bryson during the Favorite Chamblee podcast, saying, “I think Bryson DeChambeau will be hard to pair with. You know, I think he is…. But just the style of golf Bryson plays has proved difficult to pair with in the Ryder Cup. His record clearly shows that.” 

He pointed out all the differences that make him an odd pick for the team. The aggressive game style, a unique set of equipment, and even the past results were drawn for comparison. But that is not all, as the Chamblee then chose some harsh words for him. He said, “That is one of the reasons why I think he’s gonna be such a difficult person to get paired with, no doubt he’s one hell of a golfer…, but he’s an odd duck when he’s trying to blend in with the team, and he has so many potential bulletin board mistakes, and I think he would be a captain’s nightmare.”

Chamblee made it clear that when other players are dialed into the task at hand, the LIV golfer was interested in YouTube numbers. But that doesn’t make him the target, or does it? We still have a day left before the golfers start teeing off at Bethpage. Will the remaining day bring more struggle for Bryson DeChambeau? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.