Emotional DeChambeau rallies from 5 down to earn hard-fought tie for USA

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Bryson DeChambeau tried hard to block out the commotion taking place just a few yards away. The European team was gathering for an impromptu Ryder Cup celebration while his American team were essentially trapped inside the player interview area, responding to questions about their first loss on home soil since 2012.

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DeChambeau, having battled so hard during the week to whip the home crowd into a frenzy, and then battling even harder to rally for a half-point tie in his Singles match against Matt Fitzpatrick, was drained. His gaze finally drifted ever so slightly to his right, out through the window where he could see – and hear – the winners.

After a horrible first two days at Bethpage Black, the Americans could at least walk away proud of their Sunday effort, winning six matches, tying four and losing just one. Their 8.5 points earned in Singles tied for the most ever in the current format. They had managed to turn a blowout into a respectable but still frustrating 15-13 loss.

DeChambeau was asked to describe the experience of the final day.

“I fought my ass off today for this team, for this country, and we all fought hard today,” DeChambeau said. “You can see, it reflects in the leaderboard and what we did today. We're not quitters. We're not people that go down easy. So, so proud to be a part of this team, and it was great to get a half-point out of it.

“Wish I would have gotten a point, though.”

The fact that DeChambeau managed a half-point was a miracle in itself, given that he was 5 down to Fitzpatrick after just seven holes in the third match of the day. The Englishman had produced four birdies in that stretch and then won the par-4 seventh with a par.

But much like his American team, DeChambeau turned the potential rout into a scrap fight.

He won the par-3 eight with a par and followed with a 19-foot birdie putt to win the ninth. Birdies at the 14th and 15th holes left him just 1 down with three to play.

“I didn't play bad,” the Crushers GC captain said. “I just didn't have anything go my way. Three-putted 3 and just didn't really get anything going until No. 8. Gave me a little glimmer of hope and I took it.”

Up ahead, American teammates Cameron Young and Justin Thomas were igniting the potential bigger miracle, each eventually winning their matches on the 18th hole with birdies. DeChambeau was hoping to follow suit – the Americans essentially had to win at least nine of the 11 matches to have a chance – but they were running out of holes.

He had a 23-foot birdie putt at the 16th that ran past but won the 17th with par to square the match. With a chance to win at 18, DeChambeau had a challenging lie in the native area on his approach shot and did well to find the green, leaving him with a two-putt from 44 feet to tie Fitzpatrick.

“Gave it everything I had today for the team,” DeChambeau said. “Like my dad always said, you've just got to keep swimming. You can't give up. That's what I did today.

“I'm very proud of the way I finished after being 5-down. Super emotional for me right now. I put my heart and soul into this Ryder Cup.”

His teammates were impressed by his fightback. Playing in the match behind DeChambeau was Scottie Scheffler, who beat Rory McIlroy 1 up. Scheffler had partnered with DeChambeau the previous day in a Fourballs loss.

“The fight that Bryson showed today and yesterday, I mean, the way he played in our match in the afternoon was amazing,” Scheffler said. “I don't think I could have done what I did in my match today if he didn't do what he was doing in front of me. He's an emotional leader of our team and he's been great.”

The fightback was reminiscent of DeChambeau’s week at The Open this year, in which he opened with a 78 but finished with rounds of 65-68-64 to finish tied for 10th. It’s the never-quit attitude that DeChambeau will eventually get to reflect on.

“I wasn't willing to give up for this team,” he said. “They have been so amazing to me this week, and for however long I've known myself to be on this team, they have just been incredible. I couldn't give up for these guys.”

But on Sunday night at Bethpage, it was hard to mask the disappointment.