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Wednesday 26 June 2024

Analysis: Bryson DeChambeau had his chances to make the Olympics

By DOUG FERGUSON situation of the game is,
AP Golf Writer albeit it’s frustrating and
Bryson DeChambeau is a disappointing,” DeCham-
U.S. Open champion, and beau said. “Hopefully 2028
for now that will have to do. will be a little different situa-
He is among the great en- tion, and it will make it that
tertainers in golf, with a You- much sweeter.”
Tube channel approach- He played well in the ma-
ing 800,000 subscribers. He jors. But his best chance?
certainly is among the best DeChambeau, who missed
players over the last three three straight cuts before
months. Just look at his re- joining LIV in June 2022, has
cord in the majors a tie for played only one tourna-
sixth in the Masters, runner- ment outside LIV and the
up by one birdie putt in the majors over the last two
PGA Championship, con- years. Maybe he could
queror of the toughest test have helped his chances
in golf to win the U.S. Open. by playing an Asian Tour or
His swing speed is faster. His in Australia. Maybe that’s
world ranking is climbing not what he wanted to do,
higher. His appeal is stron- which is fine.
ger. That’s as close as De- His record in the majors is
Chambeau gets to being second to none. On LIV
part of the Olympics. Golf this year, he is 12th in
The four Americans head- the standings.
ing to the Paris Games are Clark has only one top 10
Masters champion Scottie (and two missed cuts) in
Scheffler, PGA champion his last five starts. But golf is
Xander Schauffele, Col- measured over time, and
lin Morikawa and past U.S. he won the Wells Fargo
Open champion Wynd- Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after winning the U.S. Open golf tournament Sunday, June 16, Championship last year
ham Clark. 2024, in Pinehurst, N.C. and then the U.S. Open,
DeChambeau, who started Associated Press and he shot 60 to win the
the year at No. 155 in the rain-shortened AT&T Peb-
world ranking and reached cans who had a steady ecutive with a strong back- decision was measuring ble Beach.
No. 10 while playing in only diet of big events with big ground in the Olympics. them against two dozen Morikawa played in the
three tournaments, is the points. The Olympics is not the other tours that operate final group of two majors
second alternate. Is there an injustice? Not re- strongest field because nothing like LIV. and has risen from No. 20
“It’s disappointing, but I ally. of that diversity, which is Players knew when they to No. 7 in the world since
understand the decisions DeChambeau missing out bringing players from 32 signed up for LIV that it the Masters. Scheffler’s
I made,” DeChambeau on the Olympics (again) countries Switzerland and would be a tough road. and Schauffele’s records
said. has nothing to do with the Malaysia, included to Le That’s why it’s worth cel- need no explanation. They
That decision was to take Official World Golf Ranking Golf National in early Au- ebrating David Puig of earned their spots in Paris.
Saudi riches two years ago choosing not to recognize gust. Spain, who joined LIV out of DeChambeau almost did,
to join LIV Golf, a league what amounts to a closed But it’s the Olympics. And Arizona State and played and he said all the right
that has teams and shotgun shop at LIV Golf. The prob- someone is always going to the Asian Tour whenever things when asked if he
starts for 54 holes against lem is golf is a sport where get left out. he could to accumulate should be going to the
(mostly) the same 54 play- the OWGR is the most logi- It makes little sense to fill points. Olympics. Perhaps it will be
ers all season. It offers De- cal way to determine who the field based on a tour Joaquin Niemann of Chile different for 2028, suggest-
Chambeau a chance to plays. because each tour has did the same, which not ing slightly better (or more)
take his talents around the The International Golf Fed- players from all over the only earned him an invita- results, or even a more eq-
world, and it affords him eration the worldwide gov- world, and the best of the tion to the Masters, he did uitable OWGR situation
time to create content erning body for golf chose lot are on the PGA Tour. It’s well enough to secure his with LIV. “There’s another
making him as popular as to use the world ranking to been that way for 20 years. spot in the Olympics again. one four years later,” he
ever. set the 60-man field when LIV has bought its share of Carlos Ortiz won in Oman said. Then again, DeCham-
The Olympics always was golf returned to the Olym- big-time players, but how on the Asian Tour, which beau knows not to count
going to be a long shot. pics in 2016. to measure them when it’s helped his cause. on that.
LIV Golf doesn’t offer “It was the best way to (mostly) the same 54 was “I’ve done my best up un- He was part of the U.S.
world ranking points and determine the top players one of the key reasons the til now to give myself a squad for the Tokyo Games
DeChambeau knew that and balance the strength OWGR board chose not to chance according to the until he tested positive for
when he signed up. He was of field with diversity,” said give them points. OWGR, but I realize and COVID-19 and never made
competing against Ameri- Antony Scanlon, the IGF ex- At the heart of the OWGR respect where the current it to Japan.q