“Absolutely bonkers,” that’s what TV analyst Jim “Bones” Mackay described the atmosphere of Bethpage Black at the Friday morning foursomes. The Ryder Cup atmosphere is always so intense that it leaves even the spectators overwhelmed, but few golfers in the world would face this atmosphere head-on and thrive. At this year’s Ryder Cup, that golfer was none other than the Scientist Bryson DeChambeau himself.

Jamie Lovemark, a former PGA Tour pro who was an assistant to Brandt Snedeker, had a very rare opportunity to be part of the team and shared his candid experience on Friday morning. The atmosphere was electric, as he was also inspired by the pre-game speech Keegan Bradley gave. However, nothing could have fully prepared him for what was about to happen as he walked to the first tee at Bethpage Black.

“I walked through the tunnel… before Bryson teed off first on Friday. And I was nervous. I felt like sick in my stomach,” he admitted. “I’m like, oh my God, I never imagined hitting the tee shot like ever,” he expressed on the Any Given Monday podcast.

No one anticipated what awaited him as he walked through the tunnel. He recalled how, “The crowd’s going buck wild… The sun’s coming up. It’s beautiful. We just had a flyover with like the most insane fighter jets. I’m shaking. And I’m like, I’m not hitting a shot. Thank God,” as he imagined himself taking the tee shot. But no one expected what happened next.

Then, Bryson DeChambeau stepped onto the tee.

In a move that has since become iconic, he didn’t just acknowledge the crowd; he commanded it. Jamie described it vividly, “He tees up, he turns around to the crowd, faces the other way from the hole, and just like stares at them like this… I’m like, oh my gosh.”

This moment was surreal, as the New York crowd went wild, DeChambeau hit a drive of his lifetime, as many analysts called it  “the most insane drive ever”. It was an insane yet controlled 350-yard high draw that went over the trees on the right, leaving his ball in front of the first green. 

The pressure to deliver was immense in front of the home crowd, but Bryson did, and Jamie Lovemark had nothing but praise,  “I’m like, oh my God, that was insane. I also get like sick thinking about if I was hitting that tee shot, how nervous I’d be. I have no idea how he hits that straight so far. And he just stands in there and delivers just an awesome moment.”

This shot not only set the tone for Team America, but it also set the tone for the entire Ryder Cup. Many highlighted how Bryson DeChambeau’s energy lifted the flat crowd on their feet and transformed the moment of the first tee into a full-blown spectacle. His complete confidence in that high-pressure situation captured what makes the Ryder Cup so special. He created a moment that sparked the spirit of national pride. That single swing became a statement, one that announced the arrival of Team USA with power, swagger, and unmistakable intent.

How did Bryson Dechambeau make the Ryder Cup despite being a LIV Golf player?

Bryson DeChambeau’s presence at the Ryder Cup came with a lot of controversy. This was due to how ties with LIV Golf and how the PGA Tour has many restrictions to let LIV Golf players into PGA Tour events. But that didn’t stop him from participating in the Ryder Cup among his PGA Tour teammates

But DeChambeau’s case for the Ryder Cup team is a very non-traditional one. Players typically have to accumulate points to qualify to play in the Ryder Cup. This meant that he had fewer chances to get points through PGA Tour events, and the only tournaments he could get these points were through the Majors. In the 2-year window between the qualification window, DeChambeau secured six top-10 finishes in eight majors. His tie for 10th in the British Open was what ultimately gained him enough points, which got him a spot on Team America automatically. 

“Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup,” Bradley added to Sports Illustrated via a text message. “He brings so much. He brings energy, passion, but most importantly, he’s one of the best players on the planet,” is what Keegan Bradley added about Bryson DeChambeau.

Keegan Bradley even added on how he would pick DeChambeau as one of the captain’s picks, which would have caused a lot of backlash due to his ties with LIV Golf, but thankfully, none of that happened. 

DeChambeau didn’t let this amazing opportunity go to waste, as his drive was the perfect answer to the people who questioned his place at the Ryder Cup. His opening tee wasn’t just about distance; it was a message to everyone, letting them know that he was there to compete, to inspire, and to deliver when it mattered most.