As the sun set over Royal Portrush’s Dunluce Links on Sunday, Bryson DeChambeau walked off the 18th green, his final-round 64 capping a stunning recovery from an opening 78 to finish T10 at 9-under in the 153rd Open Championship. But the bigger news came hours later, when U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley confirmed to Sports Illustrated that DeChambeau, the two-time U.S. Open champion, is guaranteed a spot on the 2025 U.S. Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black, regardless of his final standings.
With DeChambeau unable to earn Ryder Cup points as a LIV Golf player, Bradley’s pledge underscores the “Mad Scientist’s” undeniable value, sending a clear message: DeChambeau’s energy, passion, and elite skill are non-negotiable for Team USA’s quest to reclaim the cup.
DeChambeau’s T10 at Portrush was a testament to his resilience. After a disastrous 7-over 78 Thursday, with zero birdies, he faced a likely missed cut. But, channeling his late father’s mantra of “never give up” he roared back with a 65-68-64, including a chip-in birdie on the 12th and a 20-foot eagle on the 15th Sunday.
“I was ready to go home after Thursday,” he admitted, per ESPN, but his 9-under finish marked his sixth top-10 in the eight 2024 and 2025 majors. Currently fifth in U.S. Ryder Cup standings behind Scottie Scheffler (who has already clinched a spot), Xander Schauffele, J.J. Spaun, and Russell Henley, DeChambeau’s LIV Golf affiliation means he can’t accrue points in the four remaining PGA Tour events, including the FedExCup Playoffs, where points are earned at one per $1,000 (1.5 for majors).
Bradley’s decision to lock in DeChambeau, announced via text to Sports Illustrated on Sunday night, is a game-changer.
“Bryson is going to be a very important piece to us winning the Ryder Cup,” Bradley said. “He brings energy, passion, but most importantly, he’s one of the best players on the planet.”
With the top six players after the BMW Championship on August 17, 2025, automatically qualifying for the September 26-28 showdown at Bethpage Black, DeChambeau’s fifth-place position is vulnerable as PGA Tour players like Justin Thomas (seventh) and Collin Morikawa (eighth) chase points. But Bradley’s commitment ensures DeChambeau’s spot, either as an automatic qualifier or one of his six captain’s picks, a move praised on X: “Bradley’s all-in on Bryson. Smart move for USA,” posted @NUCLRGOLF.
DeChambeau’s Ryder Cup pedigree adds weight to Bradley’s choice. In 2018 at Le Golf National, he went 0-3-0, but in 2021 at Whistling Straits, he was a force, going 2-0-1, including a 3&2 singles win over Sergio García. His absence from the 2023 team, which lost 16½-11½ in Rome, stung, as only Brooks Koepka represented LIV Golf.
“We’re tired of losing,” DeChambeau said Sunday, per Fox News, vowing to bring “a tsunami of a crowd” to Bethpage. His 2025 major season — 3rd at the Masters, T2 at the PGA, a U.S. Open miss, and T10 at the Open — shows his big-stage prowess, despite LIV’s 54-hole format limiting his points. His six top-10s in 10 LIV events, including a win in Korea, further prove his form, per Sports Illustrated.
Bradley’s proactive approach, including a locker note at Portrush that DeChambeau called “pretty inspirational,” signals a unified U.S. strategy.
“I talked with him briefly,” DeChambeau said, noting Bradley’s outreach to potential team members. This contrasts with 2023, when LIV-PGA Tour tensions limited selections. The PGA of America’s 2024 decision to make LIV players eligible, requiring only PGA of America membership, cleared DeChambeau’s path, unlike Europe’s DP World Tour requirement.
Bradley’s earlier comments at the PGA Championship emphasized inclusivity: “We’re trying to put the best team together,” he said, inviting DeChambeau and Koepka to a team dinner.
As Bethpage looms, DeChambeau’s guaranteed spot is a shot in the arm for a U.S. team favored at -145, per DraftKings. His power and analytical approach make him a Bethpage weapon.
With Scheffler locked in and players like Thomas and Chris Gotterup (22nd after a Scottish-Portrush double) vying for spots, Bradley’s faith in DeChambeau sets a tone: no politics, just performance.
