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Doubts have emerged over Bryson DeChambeau’s eligibility for next year’s Ryder Cup with the PGA of America still to announce a pathway for LIV Golf players to appear at Bethpage Black.
Speculation is growing that DeChambeau, who is third in the Team USA qualification standings after winning the US Open in June and finishing runner-up in the previous month’s USPGA, will not be available to home captain Keegan Bradley for the match in New York unless the powers-that-be change the rules.
The same would apply to Brooks Koepka and other big-name US golfers on the Saudi breakaway league, such as Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed.
Koepka became the first LIV player to compete in the Ryder Cup last year in Rome after prevailing at the USPGA and eventually coming seventh in the points standings. Originally, it was believed that the five-time major champion would not be permitted because of his PGA Tour ban, but a wrinkle was discovered in the PGA of America’s regulations and the then-captain of the US Zach Johnson was allowed to select him as a wildcard.
In short, anybody who had paid their yearly PGA dues before June 30, 2022, was in fact, eligible to play in the Italian capital because of an obscure “grace period” that ran to June of this year. However, that loophole has now expired and, presumably, other provisions will need to be made if the rebels are to play.
‘PGA of America need to figure this out’
It is obviously a potential flashpoint, especially as Bradley declared last month that he expects the association that is in charge of the US arm of the Ryder Cup to ensure that all the LIV rebels are eligible.
“I’m going to have the best 12 players [at Bethpage] so the PGA of America need to figure that out, if that’s their problem,” he said. “I know you have to be a PGA [of America] member to play in the Ryder Cup. That’s the only stipulation. So we’ll make sure if some of those guys that we think might make the team, we’ll make sure that they are a member.”
But the PGA of America’s curious handling of this situation suggests it might not be that simple and the fact that the status of DeChambeau and co has not yet been confirmed – despite Bradley’s demands and that the match is just 12 months away – is inevitably ringing alarm bells.
When asked for comment on the situation by Telegraph Sport, a PGA of America spokesperson said: “We don’t have anything to share [on this] at this time.”
The PGA Tour and the PGA of America are entirely different organisations and the former supposedly has no power when it comes to the Ryder Cup. However, the two bodies do enjoy close ties.
With the ongoing peace negotiations between the Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund – which bankrolls LIV – showing no imminent signs of a resolution, everything seems up for leverage and barter and there is understandable concern that the much-loved match could be compromised by the split landscape.
Last week, Jon Rahm only averted being deemed ineligible for Luke Donald’s Europe team when appealing the sanctions he received off the DP World Tour for jumping ship. The Spaniard’s last-minute about-turn enables him to play in next week’s Spanish Open and then the Dunhill Links and Andalucia Masters, meaning that he can fulfil the minimum requirements to remain a Tour member.
It was a convoluted saga – and remains so, because Rahm insists he will not pay the fines if the appeal goes against him – but for Rory McIlroy it is straightforward.
“As a member of the Tour, you know what the rules are to be able to play a Ryder Cup and be eligible, and as long as you meet that criteria, then you’re okay to play,” the Northern Irishman said.
McIlroy was talking here at the BMW PGA Championship, which starts on the West Course on Thursday. Meanwhile, DeChambeau is teeing it up in Dallas at this week’s LIV Golf Team Championship, the circuit’s final event of the year.
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