Bryson DeChambeau has already made a huge mistake ahead of the Ryder Cup, says Nick Dougherty.
We are still just under a month out from the 2025 Ryder Cup, but Nick Dougherty said Bryson DeChambeau has already made a huge error, which will motivate Luke Donald and Europe.
The pressure is already heaped on the Americans after their performance in Rome two years ago. They don’t need to give any help to Europe heading into this year’s Ryder Cup.
But LIV Golf and YouTube star DeChambeau has been vocal ahead of the competition for months, and something he said recently will be bulletin board material for Donald and Europe in New York.
Bryson DeChambeau says Europe won’t be ready for the Ryder Cup atmosphere
During Luke Donald’s captain’s picks broadcast on Sky, footage of DeChambeau saying that Europe won’t be ready for the New York atmosphere was shown to Donald. Donald responded to DeChambeau, and Dougherty said it was a mistake for the American to stoke the fire.
On the Sky Sports Golf Podcast, he said, “You don’t want to be a headline. Don’t be a headline for the wrong reasons. Instead, deliver the six names, and you don’t want to make anything harder when you get there. Don’t give anything for the Americans to play in the team room.
“For instance, the Bryson quote that they won’t be ready for it, I’d imagine that’s quite inspirational. Like, ‘won’t we?’ I like all that.”
Europe’s team is stacked with Ryder Cup veterans and fiery characters. Robert MacIntyre had an exchange with a fan at the BMW Championship, Jon Rahm doesn’t shy from confrontation, and neither do Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry.
These Europeans do not need a second invitation to be fired up and motivated to win a Ryder Cup in America. 11 of the 12 played for Europe as they humiliated the U.S. in Rome in 2023, and Rory McIlroy set his sights on Bethpage Black immediately after winning.
McIlroy is focused solely on the Ryder Cup, which he called the best event in golf. He and his team don’t need the extra motivation, but they’ve been given it.
Team USA’s Ryder Cup rookies set to be chucked into the deep end
DeChambeau’s comments are ironic, considering that this highly experienced European team is taking on an American outfit filled with Ryder Cup rookies.
Europe have a second-time captain and only one player of the 12 who didn’t play in Rome in 2023. Meanwhile, a third of the American team have never played in a Ryder Cup, and Keegan Bradley is a first-time captain.
JJ Spaun, Ben Griffin, Russell Henley and Cameron Young are all set to experience the rowdy Ryder Cup noise for the first time in front of a raucous New York crowd. Donald warned Team USA that the home crowd could turn against them. Will the rookies be prepared for that?
With home support comes expectation, and the pressure could weigh heavily on the shoulders of the home team. After the way things unfolded in Rome, they simply cannot lose this competition.
They have world number one Scottie Scheffler, who drew Tiger Woods comparisons for his performances this season, to lead them, and he’s motivated after his record-breaking loss in Rome. America will need to rally behind Scheffler and the rest of their experienced stars to navigate this environment.