Here is some of the transcript from the Bryson DeChambeau press conference at the Ryder Cuy on Thursday. ACES editor Dennis Miller edited the transcripts.
Photo credit: Scott Taetsch/PGA of America
THE MODERATOR: Bryson DeChambeau is with is now at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
Welcome to your third Ryder Cup. We’ll get started with some questions here.
Question: LIV Golf put out an eight-second video of you trying to drive the first green but they didn’t show where the ball landed. Is that hole kind of semi-drivable for you and is there any circumstance where you would try to drive that in the matches?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, I think the first hole is definitely drivable if it’s downwind. Crosswind, into the wind, you have to have close to 200 ball speed to get there.
But if it’s downwind, I could definitely get the front edge if the conditions aren’t too soft.
Question: What’s the yardage?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Like 365, something like that. That’s nothing, right? Just a normal long drive shot.
Question: Did you try 6 as well, the dogleg left par 4 with the bunkering.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: No, I haven’t. It’s too up sloped. If it’s downwind, yeah, you can get it up there. But you still have just a little flip wedge probably 30 yards, something like that.
If it gets firm, there’s definitely a possibility, but it’s been raining so you never know. You never know.
Question: It’s been a long time since you’ve played foursomes, but yet it would also be kind of hard to see you sitting. Can you just sort of balance the two, and what goes into that, the lack of experience, and also the lack of experience with these guys and getting that straight?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, I think from my perspective, it’s about what can we do to give ourselves the best chance to win as a team. So if I’m going out tomorrow, great, in the morning. If not, totally understand. I’m here to support no matter what.
I think anybody that I’m paired with, I’d be excited to play with. I know the team has been awesome. I’ve enjoyed every second of being in the team room. The guys have been incredible. The support that they have given me and vice versa has been emotional for me.
It shows that we’re coming together as a team and we’re not doing it for anything else other than our country.
Question” You’ve talked a little bit about how much fun you’ve had in the team room and how much you’ve enjoyed it. What was it like to not be part of the team two years ago?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, it sucked. I wanted to be there. Didn’t play well enough in the majors. Knew what I was up against when I went to LIV. That’s a whole ‘nother conversation. But, still wanted to make the team and wasn’t able to. Seeing the guys lose really put a fire in my stomach and wanted to make the team this time around.
Now we’re here, and we’re a day away from starting probably, if not the most exciting golf event in golf.
Question: Obviously a lot of chatter about your connection to the fans. Given your popularity, do you consider it more of a responsibility or an opportunity to fire up the crowds this week?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I feel like it’s an amazing opportunity. New York fans are incredible. I’ve been up here a few times playing and as rowdy and ruckus as they get, they still love the game of golf. Having Keegan being from around here, St. John’s and what he’s done to fire up this state, this city and our team, ultimately, is inspiring for us as a team to go out and represent the best way possible.
I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to hopefully get them riled up and, you know, excited for what’s to come.
Question: Can you just articulate to us what it means to you to be back in the Ryder Cup team and representing America, and do you think the presence of Donald Trump here this week is going to help inspire you to victory?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I hope he will inspire us to victory. I think he’ll be a great force for us to get a lot of people on our side. I think it will be interesting and exciting to see how the crowd and everybody reacts. It’s going to be an electric environment.
What was the first question again?
Question: What it means to you to be back representing the Ryder Cup, how important it is for you.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, I think, you know, when I missed the Olympics because of COVID and I got COVID and wasn’t able to represent my country, that was a pretty big shot to the heart.
Playing in team events my whole entire life, playing in the Walker Cup, World Amateur, numerous other team events, that’s all I wanted to do growing up. And then being on the Ryder Cup for a winning team and a losing team, experiencing both the highs and the lows and missing in Rome, this has put something in my stomach that’s kind of made it a mission project for me.
I just — I want to — I want to be a part of this team and be the most helpful person I can for this team in whatever way possible that is.
The words really aren’t there right now to explain how passionate I am about this USA team and how good I think we are and how positive we are and how encouraging we are, inspiring we are, and what this captain has done to bring us together, to band us together like other like possibly no other captains have done in the history.
Question: Just wondering, you talk a lot about your passion for being part of the team. What kind of a team member do you see yourself as? Are you a leader who is willing to really help the rookies, or is it a case of being part of a blockbuster pairing?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I view myself as support. Like I’m there to help in whatever way possible. Whether it’s emotionally or leadership, you know, it’s more of just getting people excited and ready to go and pumping people up. Hopefully giving people some energy, really good energy out there.
I’m one that can get down on myself but over course of my career, I’ve learned to curb that and learn how to use that and turn it into positive momentum. Helping people realize what we are here for, what we are doing, why we are playing this week, is a top priority for me and being support.