Johnson Wagner thinks there’s only one player Bryson DeChambeau can possibly be paired with at the Ryder Cup

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One of the most intriguing decisions Keegan Bradley is facing ahead of the Ryder Cup concerns who he is going to pair Bryson DeChambeau with at Bethpage Black.

Bryson DeChambeau will make his return to the Ryder Cup stage later this month. Given his performance at Whistling Straits in 2021, it is not difficult to imagine the two-time US Open champion being the star attraction in New York.

He has become one of the world’s best players. And it feels as though he actually has a point to prove after not being involved in Rome in 2023.

The problem for Keegan Bradley is that pairing DeChambeau with someone is far from a straightforward task.

The only player to pair with Bryson DeChambeau at the Ryder Cup

DeChambeau has, so far, played alongside Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler in his Ryder Cup career – with mixed results.

While he was unfortunate to be put with Mickelson and Woods in 2018 – particularly in foursomes – his record does show that not everyone is likely to be a good match for the LIV Golf star.

In fact, speaking on 5 Clubs, Johnson Wagner claimed that there is only one member of Bradley’s team for Bethpage that he wants to see DeChambeau alongside in New York.

“I think there’s only one option, especially if it’s alternate shot. It’s Cameron Young,” he said.

“If you’re going to trot Bryson out, you’re going to need either someone who can flatline it, or someone who can match his intensity. I don’t think there’s many guys that can match his intensity, maybe Justin Thomas. But when you think about Cam Young, the way he’s so steady Eddie. Plus, when you think about alternate shot, Bryson is so crazy with his spin rates and launch angles, he’s not going to play anybody else’s ball. He plays a very specific prototype Titleist golf ball, and guess who won their first event their first week playing that ball. It was Cameron Young.

“So that’s a partnership I think we’re going to see. I think they’d be tough to beat in best ball. But if you’re going to put Bryson out in alternate shot, it’s got to be Cam Young.”

Bryson DeChambeau’s foursome and fourball record in the Ryder Cup

In truth, this current version of Scheffler would have struggled to help Mickelson win a point in foursomes in 2018. That was among the most baffling decisions Jim Furyk made that week at Le Golf National.

Meanwhile, Woods appeared to have little left in the tank after winning the Tour Championship the previous week.

DeChambeau has not played foursomes in the Ryder Cup since. He also sat out both sessions at the 2019 Presidents Cup.

It would be a brave call for Bradley to sit DeChambeau out of the first session at Bethpage given how important momentum is likely to be.

Bradley has already shown that he is not afraid to make a brave call. But given what it could do to the atmosphere if DeChambeau wins an early point, it would not be a shock to see the captain put him and Young out on Friday morning.