Keegan Bradley invites LIV golfers to Ryder Cup dinner despite PGA Tour-LIV tensions

CHARLOTTE, N.C.: Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley hosted a dinner in Philadelphia last week for prospective players high on the points list. Most of them were in the field for the Truist Championship. Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau were not.
Both players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf were invited to Philadelphia to join the informal dinner.

DeChambeau’s flight was delayed by weather, and he joined remotely. But it was another strong indication Bradley cares only about fielding the best team.
“They were in there on points and they played on previous teams. It was great to have them there,” Bradley said Tuesday.

“This Ryder Cup and what comes with this, no one cares about what’s going on in this PGA Tour-LIV. We’re trying to put the best team together. It could mean there’s one LIV guy, two LIV guys, it doesn’t matter.

We’ll see how this year shakes out.
“It was really great to have them together with all the guys,” he said. “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to do that.”
Koepka played in the 2023 matches at Marco Simone, while DeChambeau played in 2021.
“Look, I’ve got to keep playing good golf and ... hopefully I can make it on points alone,” DeChambeau said.
He and Koepka can only earn points in the majors.
Jon Rahm, meanwhile, can earn points for the European team through the majors and European tour events he chooses to play.

Rahm had not yet joined LIV Golf when Europe beat the Americans in Italy with Luke Donald as the captain.
He would seem to be a lock for Europe.
“That’s a question for Luke,” Rahm said. “It’s his team. Hopefully I can qualify, and we don’t have to question it.