It’s an event that pits the world’s best against each other! Yes, we are talking exactly about the Olympics that are set to kick off on July 26. However, there are many in the golfing world who may question the claim that the best athletes will compete. Why? Well, it might all boil down to a certain LIV Golf Pro not getting a spot on the U.S.A. team after a phenomenal rise in the rankings. Cue the curtains; it’s Bryson DeChambeau!

“It’s disappointing,” said a sad DeChambeau when asked about him not qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team. The golfer, regardless, was understanding of the situation as he hinted at the various decisions he made throughout the past 3–4 years, including joining LIV Golf. Even so, one can’t help but wonder if his not getting to play at the quadrennial event might prove to be too much of an error on the American team’s part, especially after his recent scintillating performances.

Bryson DeChambeau misses out on an Olympic spot

The Official World Golf Rankings currently place the ‘Scientist’ at No. 9. This is a stark contrast to the spot in which he entered 2024, at No. 210. Then how was he able to climb this much? The answer lies in his recent major championship finishes. DeChambeau clinched a T6 placement at Augusta National, a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship, and a mind-blowing victory at the U.S. Open.

The Masters helped him score 19 points, and the Valhalla event gave him a score of 60. The first major of 2024 helped him jump a hundred places from No. 210 to No. 110, while the second tournament propelled him to 35th place. The 100 points from the contest at Pinehurst No. 2 were the final push that placed him inside the top 10. Unfortunately, such a climb in rankings from minimal events was only enough for the LIV Golf Pro to become the 6th highest American on the OWGR.

According to the Olympic qualification criteria, a maximum of four athletes from each country will qualify for the Olympics. This paints a truly unlucky picture for the 30-year-old, who has the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa above him, earning spots for the Paris Games. All because the LIV Golf League failed to get OWGR backing!

The lack of OWGR support for LIV golfers, including DeChambeau

The situation would have been entirely different had there been OWGR points allocated to LIV Golf events. Over the years as a professional on the PIF-funded circuit, Bryson DeChambeau has raked in a total of two wins at Greenbrier and Chicago in 2023. The victories, coupled with the 10 top-10 finishes he has raked in on the circuit since 2022, would have helped him clinch a much better position on the world rankings.

This holds true for not just the two-time U.S. Open champion but also other golfers of the breakaway league, including Brooks Koepka, Tyrrell Hatton, and others. The Englishman’s recent win at Nashville would have pushed him closer to Matt Fitzpatrick or even above him had the world rankings not denied the Saudi-backed league any points. But their reality was different from what it could have been. Notwithstanding, LIV Golf Pros represent their nation at the quadrennial games.

LIV Golf Pros in the Olympics, unlike DeChambeau

A total of six players from the Middle Eastern circuit will tee it off between August 1 and August 10 at the Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. They include the likes of Joaquin Niemann representing his country, Chile; Abraham Ancer from Mexico; Carlos Ortiz from Mexico; Adrian Meronk from Poland; and Jon Rahm and David Puig, both of whom hail from Spain.

Each of these golfers holds a position within the top 60 of the Olympic Golf Rankings and has secured a spot on their respective country’s national team. It will be a different picture altogether if one of these six athletes manages to emerge victorious at the upcoming Paris Games while beating the rest of the PGA Tour pros.

Bryson DeChambeau and his fellow golfers can only hope a different situation arises in the next Olympic games that will take place in Los Angeles, America. The 30-year-old holds the same opinion as he had said: “I’ve done my best up until now to give myself a chance, according to the OWGR… Hopefully, 2028 will be a little different situation, and it will make it that much sweeter.” But will the 2024 U.S. Open champ finally don the stars and stripes? Only time will tell!