Chamblee rips into DeChambeau – Scheffler defends him

By Neville Idour

As if the Ryder Cup doesn’t provide enough drama on course, Golf Channel’s motormouth Brandel Chamblee revealed his obvious disdain for Bryson DeChambeau with some forthright comments leading into the big week. Scathing in some respects, might be more accurate.

Following a bit of harmless tittle tattle between Rory McIlroy and DeChambeau, the latter said: “All I’m trying to do is inspire kids on You Tube. Whatever Rory says , great. I didn’t mean anything other than I’m excited. I hope we can have some good banter back and forth. Ultimately my job is to get a kid out there who’s looking at me hitting a golf ball and smiling. I’ll be chirping in his (McIlroy’s) ear if we go up against each other.” It would be a classic match up.

The rivalry between the pair is one for the current era. However, Chamblee was having none of it, questioning DeChambeau’s priorities as well as his You Tube numbers, which incidentally are there for all to see. He opined: “He didn’t talk about playing on a team and how much that meant. What he did talk about was his You Tube channel, the numbers for which are pretty dubious. That’s what he wants to talk about, not the team or the Ryder Cup.”

TROON, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: TV comentator Brandel Chamblee looks on prior to The 152nd Open championship at Royal Troon on July 15, 2024 in Troon, Scotland. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

If that wasn’t enough Chamblee then really ripped into DeChambeau.

“No doubt he is a hell of a golfer and I’ve heard he can be generous with fans, but he’s an odd duck when trying to blend in with a team. I think it would be a captain’s nightmare. He’s not best suited to a team environment and that is one of the reasons why he is going to be such a difficult person to be paired with.”

Strong words indeed.

However, Chamblee’s opinion is not shared by all, including Scottie Scheffler who has a completely opposite view and if anyone should know, he should. Scheffler immediately leapt to DeChambeau’s defence after Chamblee labelled him a “captain’s nightmare.”

Scheffler buried Chamblee’s opinions, heaping praise on DeChambeau’s personality and energy.

Said Scheffler: “He’s a tremendous competitor, He’s a great partner as well. He’s a great guy and he’s a good friend. He’s been great in our team room. He brings a lot of energy and the people love him. Being an American means a lot to him and I’m excited to kind of unleash him this week.”

Certainly that was great support for his teammate and mud in the eye for Chamblee.

DeChambeau did address Chamblee’s claims during practice on the Wednesday, while signing autographs for fans. In a video circulating on social media DeChambeau can be seen looking down a camera phone and saying “Did Brandel say something yesterday? I don’t know what it was” while being swarmed by fans.