Bryon DeChambeau has Olympic regret as US Open champ pays ultimate LIV Golf price

Bryson DeChambeau, the US Open champion and prominent LIV Golf player, has recently shared his profound disappointment over missing the Olympic Games, a sentiment that appears set to recur with the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics on the horizon. DeChambeau’s regret stems from his inability to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics due to contracting Covid-19, a setback that prevented him from representing the United States on the global stage.

 

In 2021, as the Tokyo Olympics were about to commence, DeChambeau found himself in an unenviable position. Just a week before the start of the games, he tested positive for Covid-19, which forced him to withdraw from the event. This was a particularly bitter pill for DeChambeau to swallow, given that he had qualified to compete and was eager to make his Olympic debut. Despite his absence from the competition, he managed to engage in other Olympic-related activities, which he described as a valuable experience, albeit one overshadowed by his inability to participate in the actual games.

 

Fast forward to the present, DeChambeau’s situation remains similarly disheartening. Despite his recent success on the golf course, particularly with his second US Open victory, he once again faces the prospect of missing out on Olympic participation. As of now, DeChambeau is ranked No. 9 in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), a position that falls short of the top spots required for Olympic qualification. The players currently ahead of him include Scottie Scheffler, who holds the No. 1 position, Xander Schauffele at No. 2, Wyndham Clark at No. 5, and Collin Morikawa at No. 6. These rankings determine the selection for Team USA, leaving DeChambeau trailing behind these four golfers who have been chosen to represent the country.

 

Adding to DeChambeau’s disappointment is the impact of his association with LIV Golf, a league that has significantly influenced his Olympic aspirations. LIV Golf, backed by Saudi Arabian interests, is not recognized by the OWGR, which complicates DeChambeau’s chances of Olympic qualification. This lack of recognition means that his current world ranking, while impressive in other contexts, does not contribute to his Olympic hopes. As a result, despite his notable achievements in the sport, including his major wins, his Olympic dreams are hampered by his involvement with LIV Golf.

 

However, it’s worth noting that the situation for LIV Golf players is not uniformly bleak. Some golfers associated with LIV, such as Jon Rahm, Joaquin Niemann, and Mito Pereira, have managed to qualify and compete in the Olympics, demonstrating that while LIV Golf players face challenges, they are not universally excluded from Olympic participation.

 

Ahead of the upcoming UK LIV Golf event, DeChambeau has openly discussed his feelings of disappointment. Reflecting on the Tokyo Olympics experience, he expressed his sadness about missing the opportunity to compete due to his Covid-19 diagnosis. DeChambeau’s sentiments underscore a broader theme of missed opportunities, as he is once again on the cusp of an Olympic berth but appears unlikely to secure it.

 

In his own words, DeChambeau conveyed his regret: “I had a chance in 2021 [Tokyo Olympics] and didn’t get to go because of COVID unfortunately. I got it the week before which was unfortunate but I still got to go to all the stuff which was really cool but not going there gives me a sad feeling not being there for 2021.” His candid acknowledgment of his emotions highlights not just his personal disappointment but also the broader implications of his exclusion from such a prestigious event.

 

As DeChambeau prepares for the LIV Golf event in the UK, the shadows of his missed Olympic opportunities loom large. While his focus remains on continuing his success in professional golf, the Olympic dream he cherishes seems increasingly elusive, given the current dynamics of the sport and the constraints imposed by his affiliation with LIV Golf. The forthcoming Paris 2024 Olympics will see him once again on the sidelines, reflecting on what might have been and striving to reconcile his career achievements with his Olympic aspirations.