Xander Schauffele has made a controversial decision to skip the Procore Championship, going against US Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley’s wishes just weeks before the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black!
In this video, we break down:
• Why Schauffele is the ONLY PGA Tour player on the US team not playing
• Captain Bradley’s team-building strategy after the devastating Rome loss
• The criticism calling Schauffele the “weakest link” on the team
• How this decision could impact US Ryder Cup preparation
• Comparison with Bryson DeChambeau’s forced absence due to LIV Golf suspension
With the 2025 Ryder Cup just two weeks away (September 26-28), this decision has raised eyebrows across the golf world. Ten of twelve US team members are playing the Procore Championship at Silverado Resort to stay sharp and build team chemistry.
Schauffele’s last event was the BMW Championship where he failed to qualify for the Tour Championship, ending a winless 2025 season. Despite the struggles, he automatically qualified for his third straight Ryder Cup appearance.
Will this controversial decision hurt Team USA’s chances of reclaiming the Cup on home soil? Can Europe become the first away team to win since the Miracle at Medinah in 2012?
Stay tuned for all the latest Ryder Cup news, player updates, and analysis as we countdown to golf’s most prestigious team event!
#RyderCup2025 #XanderSchauffele #PGATour #KeeganBradley #BethpageBlack #golf
Xander Schoffley’s recent choice to skip the Procore Championship on the PGA Tour has stirred quite the debate, especially considering it directly contrasts with the desires of US RDER Cup captain Keegan Bradley. Despite Bradley’s encouragement, urging as many of his team members as possible to compete in this crucial FedEx Cup fall event, Schoffley has opted out, and his absence was officially confirmed by a PGA Tour spokesperson just before the final entry deadline last Friday at 5:00 p.m. The succinct email left little doubt, no Xander. Bradley never imposed a strict requirement for his RDER Cup team to play in the Procore Championship, but he made a strong push for participation. Why? Because this event, scheduled just 2 weeks prior to the highly anticipated RDER Cup clash at Beth Page Black in New York serves as the last opportunity for US players to sharpen their competitive edge before facing off against Europe. The captain’s concerns are rooted in past Ryder Cup performances. Notably, the 2023 US team, which Bradley was part of, suffered a surprising 40-0 defeat in the opening forums against Luke Donald’s European squad. That session was a historic low for the Americans, marking the first time in Rder Cup history the Europeans secured such a commanding start in route to a five-point victory at Marco Simone. Currently, 10 out of the 12 players on Bradley’s US team have committed to participating in the Procore Championship at Silverado Resort’s North Course in Napa, California, running from September 11th through 14th. The two exceptions aside from Schoffley are Bryson Dashambo, who remains suspended due to his association with LIIV Golf and Schoffley himself. Even Bradley has decided not to tee off in this tournament. To put the Procore Championship in perspective, it kicks off the FedEx Cup fall series Series in 2025, a sequence of seven tournaments held after the Tour Championship. These events finalize eligibility for the following PGA Tour season. The tournament boasts a challenging 7,138 yard par 72 track designed by renowned architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., The defending champion is Patton Kazay, and the winner will collect a hefty $1,080,000 from the total $6 million prize pool. Importantly, the event also hands out $500 FedEx Cup points to the champion, underscoring its significance for players chasing season standings. Despite the speculation, Shaley has not publicly disclosed his exact reasons for skipping the Procore Championship. However, at the BMW Championship last month, he did hint at the complexity of deciding whether to compete. I don’t know how many guys have signed up or not, he said, but I wouldn’t say there’s an expectation for us to play. Many of us want to play just to stay fresh and shake off any rust. He acknowledged that he planned to endure an even longer break, leaving the door open to the possibility that rest might benefit his RDER Cup performance. The BMW Championship subsequently became Schoffley’s final event of the 2025 FedEx Tough Season as he narrowly missed earning a spot in the 30man Tour Championship. Following a modest campaign without a victory, yet his status as a Rder Cup team automatic qualifier remained intact based on his overall season performance. Schoffley expressed his excitement about representing the US once more, calling the Ryder Cup unlike any event in golf and pledging to give his all at Beth Page. Because Schoffley is skipping the Procore Championship, he stands alone as the only PGA Tour member from Bradley’s squad not playing in the tuneup event. The rest of the team, including stars like Scotty Sheffller, Colin Morawa, Justin Thomas, and others will be competing, aiming to hit form ahead of the RDER Cup. Then there’s Bryson Dashambo’s complicated case. The former US Open champion, who switched allegiance to LIIV Golf in 2022 after reportedly receiving a $125 million signing bonus, remains suspended by the PGA Tour along with all other players associated with the Breakaway League. Dashambo voiced his frustration about the tour’s refusal to permit him entry into the Procore Championship, telling Sports Illustrated that the decision ultimately lies with the tour and lamenting the lack of opportunity to unite as teammates. That just shows you, he commented. Yeah, it’s an unfortunate scenario and I wish it were different. LIIV Golf’s willing to let me play. Captain Bradley sympathizes with the PGA Tour’s stance, but finds the rejection of a sponsor’s exemption for Dashambo to be an irritating wrinkle. He believes the Ryder Cup should rise above such politics, emphasizing that the intense competition comes first and foremost. Unfortunately, the Ryder Cup falls under the governance of the PGA of America, not the PGA Tour, limiting Bradley’s influence. As the Ryder Cup draws nearer, Sha is expected to partner frequently with his close friend Patrick Kentlay, another American who has also struggled to clinch a tournament victory in recent seasons. Meanwhile, speculation abounds about Dashambo’s likely Rder Cup teammate Cameron Young, known for his power hitting, is a favored guest for multiple pairings during the week. Meanwhile, the European side, captained by Luke Donald, is largely intact for their preparatory event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England. 11 out of the 12 European Rder Cup players have confirmed participation. The lone absentee being Austria’s sepraa reportedly dealing with personal matters. Donald’s recent captain’s picks included Straa, John Rom, Shane Lowry, Levig Aberg, Victor Havland, and Matt Fitzpatrick. This means legendary figure Sergio Garcia was left out, a decision that caused him visible anguish. He described missing out as mentally tough, leading to his withdrawal from the Irish Open as a consequence. Automatic qualifiers on the European squad include notable names like Rory Mroy, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Tierrell Hatton, Robert McIntyre, and Raasmus Hogard. Europe is eager to end a long streak without away victories in the RDER Cup. Their last on foreign soil was the memorable miracle at Madina in 2012. The 2025 Ryder Cup showdown is set for September 26th to 28th at the imposing Beth Page Black Course in New York, promising to deliver high drama and intense golf battles as the Procore Championship kicks off next week. Every decision, including Schoffley’s absence, adds layers of intrigue to an already thrilling RDER Cup narrative. Here’s a question for golf fans and pundits. Was Schoffley’s choice to sit out the Procore Championship a smart move to rest and recharge or a missed opportunity to sharpen his game under pressure? And what does it say about the growing divide between PGA Tour loyalties and the emergence of live golf? The evolving landscape of professional golf is raising more questions than answers. What do you think? Do you agree with Shaley’s decision or should RDER Cup captains have the final say
