Keegan Bradley Instructed to Bench Bryson DeChambeau in Ryder Cup Foursomes Due to a Worrying Factor

If there is anyone who has seemed more passionate than Keegan Bradley about Bethpage, it’s Bryson DeChambeau. Ever since the LIV Golf season concluded, he has been trying to represent the Americans in every way he can. Despite not getting the opportunity to play the Procore Championship, he was still at Napa Valley to show support for his teammates. But still, he might not play all the matches for Team U.S. if one of the analysts gets his way.

The crew of Golf Channel gathered to discuss the Ryder Cup storylines days before the events of Bethpage began. One particular segment was dedicated specifically to Bryson DeChambeau and how he fits into the team. That’s when one of the experts, Rex Hoggard, shared how he believes that there is no one in the team capable of playing with the LIV Golf pro in alternate shot.

“I think Bryson DeChambeau, we should not expect to see him in the alternate shot (foursomes). In his defense, I could say the same thing about Ben Griffin. He plays a golf ball that nobody else really plays on the Tour. That’s a hurdle the captain probably doesn’t want to get past. You’re going to relegate him on some level to four ball,” said Hoggard as he explained the situation related to DeChambeau.

It has been three years since the PGA Tour pros have been familiar with how the Crushers GC captain plays. His last Ryder Cup appearance was in 2021, and he moved to LIV Golf in 2022. As motivated as he may be to play with Team U.S., the foursome matches are a complex contest that requires pairings that know each other well. And DeChambeau might not fit the dynamic there. In fact, apart from DeChambeau and Griffin, whom Hoggard mentioned, J.J. Spaun is also not compatible to play with anyone in foursomes because of his unique golf ball choice.

However, Hoggard didn’t close all doors for him in foursomes. There is someone who would play well with Bryson, according to him: “A good option that came up last week was him and Cameron Young. They both hit it about the same distance, and that’s going to lead to familiarity between the time-out players, and imagine what it would do for the crowd. We know Bryson DeChambeau is going to be one of the crowd favorites, and certainly, Cameron Young, who is the native son, is going back to a place he has won. A place he essentially grew up in. It could be a very compelling pairing.”

Cameron Young and Bryson DeChambeau have been a much-talked-about pairing for foursomes for the past few weeks. The conversation started when it was revealed that they use the same model of the Titleist ProV1x golf ball. That would make it convenient for them to share the ball when playing alternate shots. Cameron’s ability with the wedge would also make him an ideal partner to a long-hitter like Bryson. Other than Young, then Sam Burns would also be a great pairing for DeChambeau, considering his excellent ability on the green.

However, if things had gone Bryson DeChambeau’s way, he would have wanted a completely different pairing for Bethpage. Let’s see who the LIV Golf pro’s first choice was.

Whom did Bryson DeChambeau want to be paired up with for foursomes and fourballs?

The team has already been decided. But before the Captain’s Picks were finalized, Bryson DeChambeau was rooting heavily for one player to make the squad. And he also wanted to pair up with him at Bethpage. While the whole world was debating whether Keegan Bradley should be a playing captain or not, the LIV Golf pro showed overwhelming support for his captain.

In fact, he took it a step further by suggesting that he would like to partner up with Bradley on the course. DeChambeau said, “I think that’d be pretty electric. Would that be an unbelievable experience and opportunity? Yeah. But first off, he’s got to make the team. He’s got to choose himself. And secondly, you know, I’ve got to keep playing well and if our game’s fit, if the golf ball’s fit, then we’ll do some damage.” Had Keegan Bradley picked himself, then he and Bryson DeChambeau would have certainly lit up the course in New York. However, since that hasn’t happened, we’ll have to see how often the Crushers GC captain plays at Bethpage.