Bryson DeChambeau fires dig at Zach Johnson over Ryder Cup snub

Bryson Dechambeau believes LIV golfers were unfairly dismissed by US Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson.

After lifting the individual title at LIV Golf Chicago, his second win on the Saudi-backed circuit, DeChambeau argued politics should have been sidelined.

He said: “If you look at it, it would have been nice to at least just have a call. There are numerous people that I think Zach should have called out here, and we didn’t get that.

“I understand, I get it, but we’re nothing different. We’re still competing. We’re still working super hard to be the best we possibly can be.

“I don’t know if it was back ended or whatnot. I’m not up to make that discussion available.

“I have no idea what it was or who made that decision, but it would have been nice for them to consider us more because we’re pretty damn good out here.”

• Team Europe retain the Solheim Cup

• Lewis: Big opportunity missed with Ryder Cup

The 30-year-old, who fired a historic 58 at LIV Golf Greenbrier last month, overturned an eight-stroke deficit to prevail on Sunday.

It was the U.S. Open winners second win in his last three starts, and he reckons Johnson could rue the decision to leave him out.

He added: “Brooks is obviously going to kill it for Team USA next week and excited for the team, but yeah, it definitely does sting a little bit.

“Say what you want, we’re still golfers, and I personally think that given the way I played this week, I could have definitely racked up some points for Team USA.”

DeChambeau required one of Johnson’s six captain’s picks as his major championship performances were not enough to secure an automatic qualifying spot.

But Johnson only selected five-time major winner Brooks Koepka from LIV Golf and spoke throughout the qualifying campaign of his concerns.

• Solheim Cup: Pettersen hails sensational Ciganda

• McEwan: Ryder Cup should be above parading WAGs

After finalising his side for this week’s contest in Italy, the 47-year-old said he did not notify the LIV contingent because they were too far down the points list.

He said: “I called the gentlemen that were in the fold on making the team in points.

“You’d have to go down the list – I don’t remember my last phone call on the list, but it was probably in the top 22-25 range on guys that earned points.”

“The way I see it, all the guys that do not play on the PGA Tour had an opportunity to earn their way, or at least be in the realm of complete discussion, and Brooks Koepka put himself in that position with his play.”

Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed all finished higher on the U.S. team rankings than DeChambeau and were not selected.

Three-time LIV winner Talor Gooch was also left out of the Ryder Cup fold.

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.