25/09/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | SEPT 25, 2025

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Explosive showman US hails ‘gladiator’ DeChambeau as Ryder Cup controversy swirls T WO-TIME US Open cham pion Bryson DeChambeau was hailed by United States teammates as an Northern Ireland responded to The Guardian last month, saying of DeChambeau: “The only way he gets attention is by mentioning other people.”

Team Europe charming home fans

felt American fans cared that the players were being paid this week. “I don’t think I’d be sitting up on this stage if I didn’t have a positive attitude, and I try to look at this in the most positive of lights as possible: An opportunity to do some good, which isn’t always the case.” The topic of player compensation came up during the Americans’ 2023 Ryder Cup campaign in Rome, where Patrick Cantlay did not wear a Team USA hat in what some reports suggested was an act of protest. Cantlay, who has insisted the hat issued in 2023 did not fit, also does not plan to keep any of the money given to him for playing this week. – Reuters EUROPE’S Ryder Cup team have launched a charm offensive in New York’s hostile territory before the match-play competition kicks off tomorrow, sporting wide smiles as they signed autographs for eager American fans at Bethpage Black. No away team has lifted the trophy since the Europeans’ “Miracle at Medinah,” when they won the 2012 edition in dramatic fashion in Illinois, with Ryder Cup home advantage clear. But the grinning European players sought to get whatever support they could on Tuesday, interacting with the home fans as they worked through their early practice session at the notoriously tricky Bethpage Black Course. “We’re the visitors,” said captain Luke Donald. “We have a bunch of really solid guys with good values. They’re out there to be entertaining. They’re out there to play great golf. They understand how important the fans are.” Fans dressed in red, white and blue arrived at the practice session with US rock anthems playing over the speakers, giving a patriotic feel to the affair long before US President Donald Trump is set to arrive on tomorrow’s first day of competition. – Reuters

Saudi-backed LIV series and was banned from PGA Tour events. “Bryson could be the difference for us,” two time major winner Xander Schauffele said. “This is his arena. If he views himself as a gladiator golfer, this is as good as it gets. “I’m excited to see what he can do because his points might hit harder than maybe my points because of how he might celebrate and get these fans into this tournament quickly.” Added top-ranked Scottie Scheffler: “He brings a lot of energy. The people love him. I’m excited to kind of unleash him this week.” DeChambeau was praised for his work being part of the team, notably flying to a team dinner at a PGA event where he couldn’t play. “He has made every effort possible and been incredible in the team room,” Bradley said. DeChambeau has also been popular with golf fans, high-fiving them and playing with excited flair. “He’s a showman out there,” American Patrick Cantlay said. “He’s going to get the crowd fired up.” “Explosive is a great word for how he plays,” third-ranked Russell Henley said. “It has been really cool getting to pick his brain.” US Open champion JJ Spaun says DeChambeau could be the US team’s secret weapon in trying to capture the trophy from holders Europe. “He has done a huge job of trying to insert himself on this team,” Spaun said. “Given his personality and his brand, he’s great with the fans, I think that’s going to be a huge attribute to the team this week.” – AFP

Asked on Monday by Golf Channel about McIlroy’s remarks, DeChambeau spoke about his popular YouTube videos, saying,

explosive X-factor, gladiator and showman yesterday as contro versy erupted around him at the Ryder Cup. It began when the 32-year-old LIV Golf star, whose interview session at Bethpage Black was postponed to tomorrow after the opening ceremony was advanced to today, fired the latest verbal salvo in a war of words with Europe star Rory McIlroy. “Just his golfing ability alone is an X-factor for our team, but also, he’s a really fiery player,” US captain Keegan Bradley said of DeChambeau. “We have a lot of calm, mellow guys so we need the energy from Bryson and he brings that every day in practice rounds, the team room and hopefully in the tournament.” At the Masters, where McIlroy won his first green jacket to complete a career Grand Slam, DeChambeau promised to “chirp” in McIlroy’s ear at the Ryder Cup. The five-time major winner from

“All I’m trying to do is inspire kids on YouTube . Whatever Rory says and whatnot is great. He didn’t mean anything

by it. I’m excited. “I hope we can have some good banter back and forth and if not and he wants to do what he’s doing, great, no problem. Crowd’s going to be on our side.” Golf Channel commentator Brandel Chamblee then dubbed DeChambeau a “captain’s nightmare” interested more in promoting videos than talking about the Ryder Cup. That set the stage for a Bryson love fest yesterday by US players – PGA Tour golfers who only see DeChambeau at majors since he jumped to the

Bryson DeChambeau. – AFPPIC

US players donating Ryder Cup money to charity

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER and a number of his US teammates weighed in on the Ryder Cup pay-for-play narrative yesterday at Bethpage Black, saying the money they receive for representing their country will be donated to charity. For the first time, each member of the US Ryder Cup team will receive a US$200,000 (RM841,799) stipend in addition to US$300,000 (RM1.26 million) that goes to charity. That total is up from the US$200,000 that was designated only for charity and had been in place since 1999. The decision by the the PGA of America to pay US players a stipend led to some backlash, especially since the European team are not being rewarded financially and were not even interested in any type of monetary arrangement. But Scheffler said he and his wife have a deep passion for the city of Dallas and the organisations they support there, which is what he plans

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to do with the stipend. “I’ve never been one to announce what we do. I don’t like to give charitable dollars for some kind of recognition,” said Scheffler. “We have something planned for the money that we’ll be receiving. I think it’s a really cool thing that the PGA of America has empowered us to do.” World No. 4 Xander Schauffele said he takes great pride in representing his country in the Ryder Cup and plans to donate the money, something he said will make him feel good. “You guys keep talking about it and trying to make it this negative thing. It’s whatever everyone views it as,” Schauffele said when asked if he

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US veterans confident in four rookies at Bethpage Black JUST because they have never played in a Ryder Cup before does not mean newcomers can’t play well enough to make a crucial difference in this week’s showdown at Bethpage Black. The United States team boasts 12 players ranked in the world top 23 and has four rookies in third-ranked Russell Henley, US Open winner JJ Spaun, Ben Griffin and Cameron Young. well anywhere.” Europe captain Luke Donald returns 11 of 12 players from a 2023 win at Rome, the lone newcomer being Dane Rasmus Hojgaard, replac ing twin brother Nicolai in the lineup. “Embrace the week as much as possible. “You never know when it’s going to be your last,” Donald advised rook ies. “Just trying to pick their brains,” Spaun said. “I just want to know how they feel, so I can get an estimation of how I’ll most likely feel. The common theme is everyone is very nervous, so if you feel nervous, don’t worry, everyone else is as well.” Henley won his fifth career title in March at Bay Hill, shared second at the Tour Championship and had 10 top-10 finishes this season.

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“Being here is great, but it’s your opportunity to contribute now. It’s one thing to qualify, but you’re here to help the team.” World No. 6 Spaun snapped a three-year win drought in a major way and lost twice in playoffs, includ ing to Europe star Rory McIlroy at the Players Championship. He has sought advice from Cup veterans.

“All these guys that are rookies, they performed at the highest level when they needed to to make the team,” US captain Keegan Bradley said. “Being a bubble guy, I think, is the hardest amount of pressure I’ve ever played under. “If you can go out there and win under those conditions, you can play

Griffin won at Colonial and in the PGA pairs event at New Orleans this year and was second two weeks ago in a final Cup tuneup, his 11th top-10 showing this year. Young won his first PGA title at last month’s Wyndham Championship and has eight top-10 efforts in 2025. – AFP

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