Xander Schauffele responds when asked if Bryson DeChambeau should have made the 2024 Olympic team

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2024 Open Championship winner Xander Schauffele has been asked about Bryson DeChambeau’s absence from the USA’s Olympic golf team.

The big-hitting LIV Golf star was meant to feature at the Tokyo games but contracted COVID-19 just days before the event.

DeChambeau’s presence on the breakaway tour means he’s the sixth-highest-ranked American player. However, if LIV events were awarded ranking points, his position would likely be higher.

DeChambeau has hinted at an Olympic qualifying event, and Schauffele has now been quizzed on the issue.

Xander Schauffele treads carefully when asked about Bryson DeChambeau’s Olympic snub

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Speaking during his press conference on Tuesday, Schauffele suggested his focus has predominantly been on securing his spot in the team.

“Yeah, my goal was to qualify for this team. I don’t really — you know, I’ll look at the requirements, and as long as I’m in it, then I’m going to try my best to qualify for it, and that’s what I did,” he explained.

Regarding DeChambeau’s absence, the 2024 Open winner admitted he’s not sure a new system could be implemented to allow US LIV stars to compete.

“In terms of making it better, I haven’t put a whole lot of thought,” he added. “Bryson obviously played really well and has played well in the majors overall, and won the U.S. Open in fashion. So I’m not sure. I’m not sure how to include or rank events and those things. That would be for someone else to figure out.”

Rory McIlroy less sympathetic to Bryson DeChambeau’s situation

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Rory McIlroy was also asked about DeChambeau’s absence, and the Northern Irishman offered a bullish response.

“Yeah, I think that’s the nature of qualification for the Olympics,” he said. “I mean, you could have the fifth-best sprinter in the world, but if he’s from a certain country, he’s not able to make it.”

McIlroy went on to suggest that those who moved to LIV were completely aware of the consequences of their actions.

“So if you want to qualify for the Olympics, you knew what you had to do,” McIlroy added. “Just like if you wanted to qualify for the Ryder Cup, you knew what you had to do. They were very aware of the decisions they made when they did.”

Despite missing out on the 2024 games, it does feel like change is undoubtedly in the air and that a new system could be implemented for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. And it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see DeChambeau compete.