Why Bryson DeChambeau won’t be on USA Olympic golf team regardless of 2024 U.S. Open finish
Bryson DeChambeau is on the cusp of securing his second major championship title. With just 18 holes remaining and a solid three-shot lead, DeChambeau has a promising chance to capture his second U.S. Open championship on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2. A victory would be monumental for DeChambeau. It would mark his third top-six finish…
Bryson DeChambeau is on the cusp of securing his second major championship title. With just 18 holes remaining and a solid three-shot lead, DeChambeau has a promising chance to capture his second U.S. Open championship on Sunday at Pinehurst No. 2.
A victory would be monumental for DeChambeau. It would mark his third top-six finish at a major this year, further enhancing the already impressive resume of the 30-year-old golfer. Alongside the prestige, it would also come with a significant financial reward. However, one thing DeChambeau won’t gain from winning the 2024 U.S. Open is a place on the United States Olympic men’s golf team for the upcoming Paris games in August.
DeChambeau previously represented the U.S. at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, alongside Xander Schauffele, who won the gold medal, as well as Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa. This year, however, he will not be joining his compatriots at Le Golf National in France, largely due to his standing in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
The Olympic golf competition features only 60 players, with each country allowed a maximum of four players, provided they are within the top 15 in the OWGR. For those ranked beyond the top 15, only the top two eligible players per country can compete, unless that country already has two players within the top 15.
Currently, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Wyndham Clark, and Collin Morikawa are the top-ranked Americans in the OWGR. The cutoff date for Olympic qualification is Monday, June 17, making the U.S. Open DeChambeau’s final opportunity to qualify, much like Spain’s David Puig did.
DeChambeau is ranked 38th in the world, a notable position considering he has only nine counting events in the OWGR system. Because LIV Golf events do not contribute points to the OWGR, DeChambeau and other LIV golfers can only earn ranking points from major championships or other eligible events.
Even a U.S. Open win would not elevate DeChambeau into the top four American positions. Patrick Cantlay, who is just behind Morikawa in the rankings, is likely the only American who can still qualify for the team with a strong performance on Sunday.
Last year, DeChambeau was widely considered to have been unfairly excluded from the 2023 Ryder Cup team. Given his recent strong performances, particularly in major tournaments, many expected DeChambeau to be a contender for the Olympics. However, despite potentially winning his second major title this Sunday, DeChambeau will not be competing in the 2024 Olympic Games.