25 September 2023 , 19:35
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Bryson DeChambeau has talked up his own credentials after former nemesis Brooks Koepka was the only player from the LIV tour to be picked for the Ryder Cup.
A major talking point ahead of this year's edition is the lack of selection of LIV rebels such as Dustin Johnson and Talor Gooch and Sergio Garcia by either captain. Fellow absentee DeChambeau has turned his ire on Zach Johnson after failing to receive a call from Team USA's captain.
However, old foe Koepka's inclusion will come under scrutiny if his recent struggles are to continue in Rome as he joins up with Team USA. Earlier in the year, the five-time major victor finished finished T-2 at the Masters, while also winning the PGA at Oak Hill.
However, his results have been on a downward trajectory following his latest major win and he has failed to record a top-15 finish in his last four LIV starts. His woes may be explained by the recent birth of his son Crew in July - which has coincided in his drop in fortunes.
By contrast, DeChambeau won his second LIV Golf event in as many months in Chicago recently, following on from his first win on the tour at the Greenbrier in August. However, the 30-year-old's recent purple patch was seemingly not acknowledged by Johnson, who gave the LIV rebel the cold shoulder.
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DeChambeau spoke after shooting an 8-under 63 at his latest LIV event, which saw him win by a single stroke over Anirban Lahiri and Marc Leishman. Explaining his disappointment to not get the nod for the Ryder Cup, he said: "I would say [I am playing] the most consistently good golf of my life.
"I don't know if it's the top-notch but definitely when I shot 58 that was probably the best golf I've ever played, and winning the U.S. Open obviously is the ultimate thing. I played the best golf there, too. But I can definitely tell you this little stretch has been pretty sweet for me."
Bryson DeChambeau was not selected for Team USA for this year's Ryder Cup (Quinn Harris/Getty Images)He also expressed his disappointment for his fellow players from the LIV Tour who had been overlooked ahead of this year's contest between the US and Europe. He said: "It would have been nice to at least get a call, there's numerous people I think Zach [Johnson] should have called out here.
"We didn't get that, and I get it, but we're nothing different. Given how I played this week, I think I could have racked up some points for Team USA."
Despite his regret at being overlooked, it is clear that he is instead vying for old rival Koepka to excel in Rome. With the five-time major championship holder the only LIV golf player to be picked by Johnson, he now has the support of DeChambeau.
Wishing his compatriot luck in Italy, he said: "Brooks is obviously going to kill it for Team USA next week, and I am excited about the team, but yeah, it definitely does sting a little bit. But say what you want, we’re still golfers, and I think that given how I played this week, I could have definitely racked up some points for Team USA."