Bryson DeChambeau said it was “frustrating and disappointing” to not be selected for the U.S. Olympic team, but acknowledged Wednesday that he understood the risks when he joined LIV Golf in 2022.
DeChambeau's major win at the U.S. Open has seen him rocket to 10th in the Official World Golf Rankings. He also tied for sixth at the Masters and finished runner-up at the PGA Championship to become the second-highest ranked player in LIV behind Jon Rahm. Majors and other OWGR-sanctioned tournaments have been DeChambeau's only way to climb the world rankings since the league dropped its points-earning efforts earlier this year.
But the deadline for Olympic qualification was Monday, and DeChambeau's ranking was still not high enough to secure one of the four spots for the Paris tournament. The top four Americans ranked among the top 15 in the world made up the U.S. team: Scottie Scheffler at No. 1, Xander Schauffele at No. 3, Wyndham Clark at No. 5 and Collin Morikawa at No. 7. Patrick Cantlay, at No. 8, also finished higher than DeChambeau.
“It's unfortunate, but I understand the decision I made and things haven't always unfolded as planned,” DeChambeau told reporters ahead of the LIV event in Nashville. “I've done my best to follow the OWGR and give myself an opportunity, and while it's frustrating and disappointing, I understand and respect where golf is right now and hopefully 2028 will be a little different and better.”
It was DeChambeau's second consecutive Olympic close call. He was part of the U.S. team in 2021 but tested positive for COVID-19 before the Tokyo Games and was forced to withdraw. Schauffele won the gold medal for the Americans, while Morikawa missed out on the bronze medal in a playoff. Justin Thomas and Patrick Reed also represented the red, white and blue that year.
“I've always loved representing the U.S. National Team. It was the best moment of my life and any time I get the opportunity to represent my country I'm all for it,” DeChambeau said. “It's really unfortunate that I didn't get to go in 2020. It was very disappointing.”
DeChambeau acknowledged he knew his Olympic chances were on the line when he moved to LIV, but he also figured the pro landscape would have changed by now, with the rival league now in its third year.
“That's what I thought,” he said. “It didn't work out that way, but again, I respect my decision and it is what it is. It hurts, but in four years I'll have another chance.”
