Brandel Chamblee goes in on ‘circus barker’ Bryson DeChambeau ahead of Ryder Cup

Golf commentator Brandel Chamblee didn’t just have a hot take on Monday; it was a scorcher as he took aim at Bryson DeChambeau on Golf Channel’s “Live From” ahead of the Ryder Cup this week on Long Island. 

Chamblee equated the two-time U.S. Open champion to a “circus-barker” and labeled him a “captain’s nightmare” during an on-air diatribe with the pristine Bethpage Black course in the background. 

The conversation started after Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis spoke with DeChambeau and had him react to comments from Rory McIlroy, who said during an interview with The Guardian that the only way that the American golfer can get attention was by “mentioning other people.” 

Chamblee first took aim at DeChambeau playing in LIV Golf, calling it the “witness protection program,” according to Golf Digest. 

“Nobody watches, he doesn’t get any attention. So, when he does come out, there’s a bit of a circus-barker element to it to drum up some interest for himself,” the golf commentator opined. 

But he didn’t stop there, going on to take a shot at the golfer’s retort to McIlroy’s comment and how DeChambeau seemed to focus on his YouTube channel. 

“He didn’t talk about playing on a team and how much that meant,” Chamblee said. “What he did do was talk about his YouTube channel, which, if we want to talk about the numbers that are generated from that, it’s pretty dubious. I have no doubt that bots are generating a lot of those views. There may be some interest as well, but that’s what he wants to talk about? Not the team, not the Ryder Cup.

“It’s one of the reasons why I think he’s going to be such a difficult person to get paired with. No doubt he’s one hell of a golfer, no doubt he has his moments and generosity with fans, I’ve heard about it. But he’s an odd duck when he’s trying to blend in with the team. And he has so many potential bulletin board mistakes, and I think he would be a captain’s nightmare.”

While LIV Golf has had to fight to gain an audience and following, DeChambeau has become one of the most recognizable golfers on either tour – PGA or LIV – due to his popular YouTube videos, which have helped grow his fanbase. 

His popular “Break 50” series included a round with President Donald Trump. 

As for the pairings that captain Keegan Bradley will put out when the Ryder Cup begins later this week, he has kept that pretty guarded. 

DeChambeau played his practice round with Justin Thomas, Cameron Young and Ben Griffin on Monday.