Vocal OWGR Critic Bryson DeChambeau Makes Drastic U-Turn After Rise to World No. 10 Spot

“I know their agenda… They’re trying to hold us out long enough to where we’re irrelevant,” said Bryson DeChambeau a few months back after LIV Golf faced repeated rejections in their appeal for Official World Ranking points. The Scientist shared his frustration and also expressed how the OWGR’s decision negatively impacted the breakaway circuit.

However, six months after his previous statements, DeChambeau has taken a shocking U-turn on the OWGR. The staunch critic of the OWGR has now risen to the 10th spot in the Official World Golf Rankings (thanks to his recent U.S. Open victory), signaling a softened stance on the world ranking system.

Even after becoming the 10th-ranked golfer on the OWGR, Bryson DeChambeau missed qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Despite his disappointment at the missed opportunity to represent the US, DeChambeau was able to move forward. Before the start of LIV Golf Nashville, the winner of the 124th U.S. Open was asked in the pre-tournament press conference what frustrated him about missing the Olympics.

DeChambeau humbly replied, “It’s disappointing, but I understand the decisions I made, and the way things have played out has not been necessarily perfectly according to plan.” The 30-year-old expressed that he gave himself the best chance to rank up on the OWGR and meet the Olympic qualification, though it was still not enough.

However, DeChambeau accepted his fate as the result of his decision to jump ship to LIV Golf. He said, “I realize and respect where the current situation of the game is, albeit it’s frustrating and disappointing.” With the current progression in the PGA Tour-PIF merger, things might change for LIV Golf players as and when the merger gets finalized.

The 30-year-old too hoped for a better future and said, “Hopefully 2028 will be a little different situation, and it will make it that much sweeter.” The SMU alum has been in the game for a long time, but did DeChambeau ever represent the USA in the Olympics before joining LIV Golf?

Has Bryson DeChambeau ever qualified for the Olympics?

At the press conference in Nashville, Bryson DeChambeau expressed his love to represent the USA in the team format, whether it be the Ryder Cup, Walker Cup, President Cup, or from the time he played the amateur team events. DeChambeau has said, “It’s been some of the greatest moments of my life,” and he is always up for those chances.

In 2020, the 30-year-old was given his first chance to play for the United States in the Olympics. However, DeChambeau could not participate as he was diagnosed with COVID-19 a week before the games started. The two-time U.S. Open winner recalled the upsetting situation but ended his answer on a positive note and said, “I got sick, and we took the precautions and made the right decisions, and I got healthy from it, I recovered, I got my smell back. It’s all good.”

Although DeChambeau probably expected to play in the 2024 Olympics, as evident, he would face disappointment yet again. Until the next Olympics, if LIV Golf reapplies for the OWGR, as the Greg Norman-led league withdrew the request, and the world rankings system approves it Bryson DeChambeau might be a part of the 2028 Olympics.