Bryson DeChambeau will feel on top of the golfing world after winning the US Open, following a thrilling final round that saw him pip Rory McIlroy to glory. The American rescued his initial skewed drive on the final hole with a superb sand save and putt, edging McIlroy by a single stroke for his second Major title.
However, despite the world No. 10’s prominence and stellar form, he won’t be competing for his country at the Paris Olympics this summer. Having joined Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund-backed LIV Golf in 2022, his involvement has cost him precious Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points and subsequently a place in France.
DeChambeau entered the US Open ranked 38th overall in the OWGR and moved up to 10th with his victory, but still fell short as the top four Americans all sit ahead of him.
LIV Golf events are not recognised by the OWGR and DeChambeau’s success on the breakaway tour has not impacted his standings in relation to the upcoming Games, with Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa and Patrick Cantlay all ahead of the 30-year-old.
Even though DeChambeau was aware of the setbacks that would follow by joining LIV Golf, he opened up on the disappointment of not being able to feature at the Olympics.
“I would love to represent the United States,” DeChambeau told The Pat McAfee Show. “It was tough for me last time around because of Covid, it was just one of those things that happened.
“Hopefully one day this game of golf will get figured out and come back together and I will be able to play [in the Olympics], I’m playing great golf. I’m excited, but ultimately yeah, am I frustrated and disappointed? Sure, you could absolutely say that. But I made the choices that I made and there’s consequences to that and I respect it.
“But hopefully, sooner rather than later, we figure that out. Nothing would mean more to me than putting on the red, white, and blue for Team USA at the Olympics.”
If DeChambeau had been playing on the PGA Tour he almost certainly would be among the top-four ranked Americans, but due to the OWGR not recognising LIV Golf events because of the tour’s 54-hole format, he will instead cheer on his compatriots from home.
The four American spots were decided at Pinehurst as world No. 1 Scheffler and No.3 Schauffele were confirmed before a ball was struck. They will be joined by Clark and Morikawa after Cantlay just missed out, despite a T3 finish behind DeChambeau and McIlroy on Sunday.
