DeChambeau stands out even with U.S. emphasis

SHEBOYGAN, WIS. » Bryson DeChambeau is determined to be an exemplary team player at the Ryder Cup, and he wasted no time Sept. 21 proving his point.

He spoke to the print media, ending a 48-day boycott.

“I think this is a team event. I’m focused on helping Team USA to a victory, and that’s honestly the reason why I’m here,” DeChambeau said.

Points aren’t awarded based on words. Even so, DeChambeau used his time to dispel a few distractions hanging over the American team as it sets out to try to win back the Ryder Cup from Europe at Whistling Straits.

First of all, his hands are fine and his motivation is strictly on the Ryder Cup.

DeChambeau was quoted in a story on golf.com (with whom he has a financial partnership) saying that his “hands are wrecked” from two-a-day training for the Professional Long Drivers Association World Championships, which starts a day after the Ryder Cup.

“So when I had some blisters on my hands and wrecked my hands, that was before the FedEx Cup playoffs,” DeChambeau said. “The story came out later. I played pretty well during the FedEx Cup playoffs. … Leading up into this event, I’ve put full-force focus into this event, and I think part of hitting it far is some of why I am so successful.”

That part is difficult to dispute. DeChambeau won the U.S. Open last September with the lowest score ever at Winged Foot. He won again at Bay Hill by nearly driving the green on the par-5 sixth hole, which bends left around a lake. He is No. 7 in the world for a reason.

He also said his beef with Brooks Koepka, which has been going on for two years, is not an issue this week and could be coming to an end.

“A lot of this social media stuff has definitely been driven by a lot of external factors, not necessarily us two,” he said, without offering up what those external factors might be. “We had some great conversations Tour Championship week when we had dinner, and then this week, as well. I sat down and had dinner with him last night, and it was fine.”

He said “something fun” was on the horizon, without giving more details.

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Team USA’s Bryson DeChambeau hits on the third hole during a practice day at the Ryder Cup at the Whistling Straits Golf Course on Sept. 21 in Sheboygan, Wis.