Ryder Cup Captain Invites LIV Golfers to Team Dinner Amid Controversy

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Keegan Bradley confirmed Tuesday that he invited Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, both LIV golfers, to a team dinner last week. The gathering took place in Philadelphia before the Truist Championship, aiming to foster team spirit amid ongoing tensions between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

“We invited Brooks and Bryson, and they were in there on points and they played on previous teams,” Bradley said during a press conference at Quail Hollow Club, site of this week’s PGA Championship. “It was great to have them there. This Ryder Cup, no one cares about the PGA Tour-LIV dispute. We’re focusing on putting the best team together.”

While DeChambeau was unable to attend in person due to severe weather delays, he participated via Zoom. “It’s an incredible honor to be invited,” DeChambeau said. “From everything I heard, it was pretty inspirational. I know [Bradley] is going to be a great leader for the team.”

DeChambeau currently ranks fifth in the Ryder Cup points standings, with six automatic spots available after the BMW Championship in August. Koepka, however, sits much lower at 91st and faces challenges gaining points, as LIV events do not count towards Ryder Cup standings.

Bradley acknowledged the complexity of selections, stating, “It could mean there’s one LIV guy, two LIV guys, it doesn’t matter. We’ll see how this year shakes out.” The U.S. team, looking to improve after a loss to Europe in 2023, will compete against the European squad at Bethpage Black State Park from September 26 to 28.

Jon Rahm, a member of LIV Golf and also pursuing a spot on the European team, expressed hope to qualify on points but acknowledged it is ultimately up to team captain Luke Donald. “That’s a question for Luke, it’s his team,” Rahm said. He is currently ranked 29th in points.

Bradley’s open approach to assembling the roster seeks to unite players from both tours. “It was really great to have them together with all the guys. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do that,” he concluded.