“Let's not underestimate this guy” - McGinley wary of DeChambeau effect at Bethpage
ryson DeChambeau of Team United States reacts on the 18th hole during the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 in Farmingdale, New York. (Photo by Michael Reaves/PGA of America)
Europe won’t be underestimating Bryson DeChambeau and his rivalry with Rory McIlroy even if he’s perceived as the black sheep in Keegan Bradley’s US team.
McIlroy finished on the wrong end of their head-to-head for the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No 2 but got his revenge at the Masters this year, when DeChambeau complained that the Co Down man didn’t speak to him all day as they battled in the final group on Sunday and he shot 75 to slip to joint fifth.
The LIV Golf star has vowed to do all the talking if they face off this week.
“I'll be chirping in McIlroy’s ear this time,” DeChambeau told People Magazine at the premiere of Happy Gilmore 2. “If we go up against each other, you can be sure of it.”
McIlroy dismissed those comments in a recent interview with The Guardian and took a shot at the US star.
“I think the only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people,” he said. “That is basically what I think of that. To get attention, he will mention me or Scottie [Scheffler] or others.”
DeChambeau was asked after his first practice round on Monday—when he went out with Ben Griffin, Justin Thomas and Cam Young— if he had any response to McIlroy’s jibe.
“All I'm trying to do is inspire kids on YouTube,” DeChambeau said. “And you know, we've got quite a big audience on YouTube, and I'm continuing to focus on that train of thought, and whatever Rory says and whatnot, I didn’t mean anything by it, other than I'm excited.
“I hope we can have some good banter back and forth. And if not, if he wants to do what he's doing, great. No problem. “Crowd's gonna be on our side. We're gonna have a fun time. But ultimately, you know, my job is to get a kid out there that's looking at me hitting a golf ball and smiling. That's the goal.”
DeChambeau might be perceived as a tough player to pair with others, but Europe’s strategic advisor, Paul McGinley, is wary of the big-hitting American.
“Normally, fans like the black sheep, no matter what the sport is; a guy who's different and unique,” McGinley said on Golf Channel. “So I have no doubt the fans will rally around him here. “Will he play the first morning? You'd have to look at his game and say it's probably not suited to foursomes. He's a difficult personality to pair with for sure, and he's also got a difficult game to pair with, because his iron play in particular has been really poor at the majors this year.
“His driving is spectacular. We know that. His short game is spectacular. We know that, but his iron play has been really poor, and generally, it's iron play you look for more than anything when you're trying to pair. “Having said that, he is a big name, he's going to draw a huge noise from the crowd, and his comments were about playing to his own audience on YouTube.
“He just said that that's what that was about. And a lot of those YouTube fans are going to be here today or this week, so I would not be surprised (if he played on Friday morning. “He's not a perfect fit for foursomes, but I would not be surprised, because one of the keys that we're expecting from Keegan is to play to the crowd and get that home crowd advantage as soon as possible. So obviously him in the team on the first morning would do that for him.
“In fairness, he's excited for the week, he has been there for his teammates, travelling to Atlanta for dinner and travelling, though he wasn't playing in the tournament, out in Napa.”
While LIV Golf’s team dynamic has been ridiculed in some quarters, McGinley is not dismissing it.
“For two years he's been on LIV as part of a team,” McGinley said. “So he's coming here with more experience of being part of a team than other guys. “And you're laughing at me because it's a LIV team, I know. But the point is, he is still part of a LIV team, and that puts him in a different spot.
“Let's not underestimate this guy.”
