Connect with us

Golf

Bryson DeChambeau pinning Olympic dreams on Los Angeles 2028 after missing Paris games

Published

on

Bryson DeChambeau pinning Olympic dreams on Los Angeles 2028 after missing Paris games

Bryson DeChambeau is pinning his hopes of Olympic glory on the Los Angeles games in 2028.

Unable to participate at Tokyo 2020 due to COVID-19, the two-time US Open champion’s decision to join LIV Golf is keeping him out of the games in Paris this summer.

“I’ve done my best up until now to give myself a chance according to the (world ranking), but I realise and respect where the current situation of the game is, albeit it’s frustrating and disappointing,” DeChambeau said, with the US Open trophy beside him.

“Hopefully 2028 will be a little different situation, and it will make it that much sweeter.”

DeChambeau is 10th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). The Olympics uses the rankings to set the 60-man field, and the OWGR does not recognise LIV Golf with its closed shop (the same 54 players all year competing in 54-hole events) and simultaneous team play.

The OWGR has not figured out how to measure such a league with two dozen open tours around the world, and LIV hasn’t offered a solution on its end.

That means DeChambeau has only been able to earn rankings points in the majors this year, and he did his part by finishing tied for sixth in the Masters and second to Xander Schauffele in the PGA Championship before his US Open triumph last week at Pinehurst No 2.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

The story of Bryson DeChambeau’s final round at the US Open which ended in a dramatic one-shot victory at Pinehurst No 2

A maximum of four players can represent any country in Olympic golf, and DeChambeau is the sixth highest-ranked American. The US team will feature Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, Schauffele, Wyndham Clark and Collin Morikawa.

DeChambeau made the US squad for the Tokyo Games only to test positive for COVID the week before his planned flight to Japan, which kept him from representing his country.

LIV-PGA Tour – How did we get here

  • Nov 2019: Early framework of new tour to rival PGA Tour announced with Premier Golf League (PGL)
  • Oct 2021: LIV Golf Investments is announced with Greg Norman as its CEO
  • Feb 2022: Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson says the PGA Tour’s obnoxious greed could leave to players joining LIV. He apologises later that month for his comments and steps back from golf
  • May 2022: Two-time major champion Dustin Johnson is confirmed to play in the first LIV Golf event in London in June, with Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood among others on the entry list
  • Jun 6 2022: Mickelson signs up for LIV Golf after four-month hiatus where it turns out he was suspended by PGA Tour
  • Jun 9 2022: PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan declares players competing in first LIV Golf event are suspended, on same day tournament begins in London
  • Jun 21 2022: Four-time major champion Brooks Koepka is latest name to join LIV Golf, with Cameron Smith also announced in August, a month after winning The Open
  • Aug 2022: Woods and McIlroy hold a players-only meeting known as the Delaware Meeting, with increased purses at some events on PGA Tour announced
  • Apr 2023: DP World Tour wins an arbitration case against LIV Golf players who were seeking to play the former European Tour. DP World Tour given right to fine and suspend defectees
  • Jun 6 2023: Stunning agreement announced as PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Public Investment Fund governor Yasir Al Rumayyan sit side-by-side on American TV channel CNBC and announced a Framework Agreement had been reached to reunite men’s professional golf
  • Jun 13 2023: US Senate launch investigation into PGA Tour plans after proposed deal with Saudi fund
  • Aug 2023: Woods appointed to policy board as negotiations between the PGA Tour and PIF are underway
  • Nov 2023: McIlroy resigns from the Tour’s policy board
  • Dec 2023: Masters champion Jon Rahm joins LIV Golf for a reported fee of £450 million
  • Dec 2023: A date of December 31, 2023 was set to conclude the deal to bring men’s professional golf back together, but that passed without the Framework Agreement being ratified
  • Feb 2024: The PGA Tour secure a $3bn investment as part of a partnership deal with the Strategic Sports Group, not PIF
  • May 2024: McIlroy’s interest in returning to the policy board is rejected. In a big blow, director Jimmy Dunne and board member Mark Flaherty resign

The 30-year-old knew not qualifying for the Olympics was a possibility when he joined LIV in 2022. He’s played only one tournament outside the majors and LIV events since then – last year’s Saudi International – but has finished in the top 10 in five of his nine majors played during that stretch.

PGA Tour officials are talking with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf, trying to reach an agreement for a new model for professional golf.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Bryson DeChambeau helped Johnson Wagner recreate the perfect shot from the bunker at the 18th, with the pair celebrating with the US Open trophy!

DeChambeau said he had been hoping for an agreement by now to allow him to play in the Olympics.

“It hasn’t worked out that way, and again I respect the decision that I made, and it is what it is,” he said. “It hurts, but you know what? There’s another one four years later.”

Until then, all DeChambeau can do is enjoy himself.

He’s been on a whirlwind tour since he beat Rory McIlroy by one shot last weekend at Pinehurst. He has appeared on a handful of TV shows and estimated he’s maybe slept 12 hours since Sunday.

He continued his celebration swing Wednesday, carrying the trophy with him into his news conference. He also made sure everyone touched it on his way out, as he did with the fans at Pinehurst.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Look back at Bryson DeChambeau’s best shots across the four days that helped him win his second US Open at Pinehurst No 2

His win also has given LIV Golf a boost. This event about 30 miles south of Nashville is nearly sold out before Friday’s start at The Grove, designed by LIV CEO Greg Norman, which also has hosted a Korn Ferry Tour event.

DeChambeau said he’s feeling as if he’s playing as well as he did in 2018 when he won consecutive FedEx Cup playoff events – even if the stats and rankings don’t put him at No. 1.

Golf Now logo.

Get the best prices and book a round at one of 1,700 courses across the UK & Ireland

He dodged the question of whether or not he’s the best player in the world, leaving that to others to answer.

“I’m not going to put a label or title on myself,” DeChambeau said. “That’s not what I do. I’m here to go play the best golf I can and inspire others and give people some great entertainment.”

Watch PGA Tour and DP World Tour action live this season on Sky Sports. The 152nd Open at Royal Troon is live from July 18-21 on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the PGA Tour, majors and more with NOW.

Continue Reading