Bryson DeChambeau reveals "so wrong" Phil Mickelson Ryder Cup story
Bryson DeChambeau has recalled how multiple major champion Phil Mickelson left him almost lost for words during his Ryder Cup debut.
Bryson DeChambeau has recalled how Phil Mickelson left him almost lost for words during his Ryder Cup debut in 2018.
The content king made his first appearance on golf's biggest stage at Le Golf National in Paris.
Then aged 25, the American was thrown in at the deep end by being paired with two of the best the game has ever seen.
DeChambeau partnered Phil Mickelson in the foursomes and Tiger Woods in the four-balls.
Unfortunately for DeChambeau and Team USA, he lost both matches and also was defeated by Alex Noren in the singles.
The US team slumped to a 17½ – 10½ defeat.
DeChambeau made amends for what transpired in France with electric performance at Whistling Straits in 2021, going undefeated in all of the matches he played.
An obvious highlight, of course, was the American driving the first green in his singles match against Sergio Garcia and holing the subsequent eagle putt.
DeChambeau recently reflected on his Ryder Cup career so far in an interview for the official US Ryder Cup YouTube page.
"I was very much thrown in the fire," DeChambeau said.
"Playing with Tiger was very nerve-racking for me. He's an intimidating guy, I love the guy, and he's amazing.
"But it was wild to see how everybody reacted and treated us with us being overseas. My biggest memory was playing with Tiger on the first tee."
His experience playing alongside Lefty was also memorable.
"Another one was Phil Mickelson, he wasn't playing that great then and he goes, 'Bryson, I just need a pep talk right now, you need to give me a pep talk'," he said.
"As a veteran, the second-most winning golfer in our era.
"For me to give him a pep talk down the third fairway, I was like, 'this is so wrong', the roles have been reversed. What's going on?"
The 2018 Ryder Cup marked Mickelson's last involvement as a player in the Ryder Cup.
Mickelson was one of Steve Stricker's vice-captains in Wisconsin but appears to have been given the cold shoulder since his switch to LIV Golf.
Six-time major champ Mickelson was reportedly pencilled in by the PGA of America to lead the US at Bethpage Black, possibly going up against a European team led by Ian Poulter.
Bryson DeChambeau walking off the first tee with his putter was a flex. Draining the putt was just the cherry on top.#GoUSA | #TopShotTuesday pic.twitter.com/u8vjuV6yUp
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) June 10, 2025
Mickelson admitted in January 2024 he didn't see that scenario unfolding after his switch to the PIF-backed LIV, explaining that he saw himself as "too divisive".
"I don't feel I'm the right guy to be involved with the team because I'm a very divisive character right now, if you will, and I understand that," he said.
"The players on the PGA Tour, there's a lot of hostilities towards me, and I don't feel I'd be the best leader for them."
The 2025 Ryder Cup gets underway next Friday.
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