Bryson DeChambeau was disappointed with his performance at the 2025 Ryder Cup, and one pro has suggested he may have cost himself the chance to snatch a point on the final day
Bryson DeChambeau inspired Team USA’s late Ryder Cup rally, but it was not enough to beat the Europeans(Image: Harry How, Getty Images)
Bryson DeChambeau’s approach has been cited as a possible factor that prevented him from securing a crucial point on the final day of the Ryder Cup. It comes as the American star teamed up with a celebrity “caddie” while recovering from the tough loss in the tournament.
Going into the 2025 Ryder Cup, DeChambeau was widely expected to shine for Keegan Bradley’s Team USA at Bethpage Black. However, the LIV Golf star faltered as Europe triumphed, with Rory McIlroy even delivering a pointed jab at his opponent during the victory festivities.
In Sunday’s singles matches, where Viktor Hovland’s injury activated the envelope rule and awarded both sides a half point, DeChambeau trailed Matt Fitzpatrick by five strokes after just seven holes, seemingly heading for a crushing loss. Yet he mounted an impressive comeback.
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DeChambeau made a commendable charge on the back nine, equalizing on the 17th hole before tying on the 18th and securing a vital half point for his team. He consistently energized the crowd and took pride in being the team’s motivational force.
Nevertheless, speaking on The Smylie Show, professional golfer Smylie Kaufman suggested the two-time US Open winner’s strategy may have ultimately denied him the opportunity to claim a full point.
Kaufman argued that DeChambeau should have executed a superior approach shot, which would have forced Fitzpatrick to putt first and reveal the line.
“I had a chance to look at that lie from Bryson, it was a heavier lie in the grass,” Kaufman said. “It wasn’t sitting down in some hardpan, there was enough on it to where I felt like he could have done better with that in that moment.
Smylie Kaufman suggested DeChambeau’s approach shot on the 18th hole needed to be better(Image: GETTY)
“The way he hits golf shots, I feel like, sometimes, it hurts him in moments. And in a moment like that, I felt like if he would have had a normal length iron, a normal length wedge, he hit this thing to the moon, I would have thought that most players would have been able to bring that thing in low and get it to tumble all the way to that back pin.
“So it was really surprising that he tried to just swing through this heavier grass to hit it up in the air, instead of trying to get steep and get it chase back. He fought his tail off and got the half point, but I felt like he needed to putt before Matt because Matt hit such a poor wedge shot into the green.”
DeChambeau, who hadn’t competed in the Ryder Cup since 2021, finished with a 1-3-1 record in New York. Despite Scottie Scheffler’s praise for DeChambeau’s comeback effort, the American remained frustrated with his opening performance.
“Today I didn’t get off to the best of starts, and Matt was playing really well,” DeChambeau told reporters. “It’s one of those situations where I didn’t play bad. I just didn’t have anything go my way. Three-putted 3 and just didn’t really get anything going until No. 8. Gave me a little glimmer of hope, and I took it.
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“You know, it was one of those situations where I just thought back to what Xander said, ‘It’s not over till the whistle blows.’ And I wasn’t willing to give up for this team. They have been so amazing to me this week, and for however long I’ve known myself to be on this team, they have just been incredible.
“I couldn’t give up for these guys. And so my thought process was to just keep swimming, just keep moving and keep fighting back.
“I fought my ass off today for this team, for this country, and we all fought hard today. You can see, it reflects in the leaderboard and what we did today.
“We’re not quitters. We’re not people that go down easy. So, so proud to be a part of this team, and it was great to get a half-point out of it. Wish I would have gotten a point, though.”
