Chamblee calls DeChambeau ‘captain’s nightmare’

Brandel Chamblee took a shot at one of the Americans’ best players — and top entertainers — days before the 45th Ryder Cup kicks off at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y.

Chamblee, the outspoken Golf Channel analyst, called two-time major champ Bryson DeChambeau an “odd duck” and that his unique personality makes him a “captain’s nightmare” for team events like this one.

Chamblee’s comments came immediately after DeChambeau spoke with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis to respond to comments Rory McIlroy made earlier this week, which were made only after McIlroy was asked to comment on what DeChambeau said of him this summer. (Still following?)

At the “Happy Gilmore 2” premiere in New York City in July, People asked DeChambeau about McIlroy and the Ryder Cup, which led to DeChambeau saying: “I’ll be chirping in [McIlroy’s] ear this time. Now, if we go up against each other, I mean, you can be sure of it.”

The Guardian’s Ewen Murray met with McIlroy at this year’s Tour Championship and asked about those comments (part of a lengthy interview published this week) and McIlroy said, “I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people. That is basically what I think of that. To get attention he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.”

Now officially on-site for the Ryder Cup on Monday, DeChambeau was asked about McIlroy’s rebuttal, to which he said, “All I’m trying to do is inspire kids on YouTube, and we have amassed quite a big audience on YouTube and I’m continuing to focus on that train of thought, and whatever Rory says and whatnot, granted I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m excited. I hope we can have some good banter back and forth.”

Chamblee, however, took issue with DeChambeau’s comments — and also took a pointed jab at DeChambeau’s YouTube audience. Although he seemed more irked by what DeChambeau didn’t say.

“I thought it was pretty pointed there when he [was] asked about the retort of Rory, that he didn’t mention the goal this week of a Ryder Cup,” Chamblee said on Golf Channel. “Nope, he didn’t do that. He didn’t talk about playing on a team and how much that meant. Nope, didn’t do that. What he did do was talk about his YouTube channel, which, you know, if we want to talk about the numbers that are generated from that, it’s pretty dubious. I have no doubt bots are generating a lot of those views. There may be some interest as well. But that’s what he wants to talk about. Not the team, not the Ryder Cup.

“It’s one of the reasons why I think he’s going to be such a difficult person to get paired with. No doubt he’s one hell of a golfer. No doubt he has his moments of generosity with fans; I have heard about them. But he’s an odd duck when he’s trying to blend in with the team, and he has so many potential bulletin-board mistakes. I think he would be a captain’s nightmare.”

DeChambeau, the lone player on the U.S. side from LIV, a league Chamblee has often criticized, locked up the sixth and final automatic-qualifying spot for the U.S., an impressive feat since LIV events don’t offer World Ranking or Ryder Cup qualifying points. That means he had to earn his way in via major championships, and over the last two years he finished top 10 in six of the eight. That included his second U.S. Open title, when he beat McIlroy down the stretch to win the 2024 Open at Pinehurst No. 2. Less than a year later, at the 2025 Masters, McIlroy and DeChambeau were in the final pairing when McIlroy won to complete the career Grand Slam.

DeChambeau, however, hasn’t yet found the same success at a Ryder Cup. In his two previous appearances (2018 and 2021) he’s compiled a 2-3-1 record, which includes an 0-2 foursomes record.

That foursomes record, not to mention DeChambeau’s eccentric personality, is likely what Chamblee’s referencing when he says DeChambeau is a captain’s nightmare. The alternate-shot format is tricky, especially since it’s important to match things like golf ball and personality.

“This is a tough thing for him, to come into guys that he doesn’t see every day, full of PGA Tour players, but he’s done an exceptional job of making the extra effort,” U.S. captain Keegan Bradley said of DeChambeau on Tuesday. “… He’s made every effort possible and been incredible in the team room. I think Bryson, just his golfing ability alone is an X-factor for our team, but also, he’s a really fiery player. When you come to a Ryder Cup, you don’t want guys to try to be something they’re not. We have a lot of calm, mellow guys, so we need the energy from Bryson, and he brings that every day in practice rounds, in the team room, and hopefully in the tournament competition too.”

The Ryder Cup storylines are heating up — and we’re still three days away from this thing starting.

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