Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka Deemed Eligible For 2025 Ryder Cup Despite 'Loophole' Closing

It would have been hard to imagine Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka not representing the U.S. in the 2025 Ryder Cup, but after serious speculation that may become a reality, the PGA of America has cleared the air.

LIV Golf players were eligible to compete for the U.S. during the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, and team captain Zach Johnson used one of his six captain's picks to select Koepka. It was unclear whether or Keegan Bradley, who will captain the U.S. side next year, would be given that luxury heading into 2025.

According to The Telegraph, a wrinkle was discovered before the 2023 Ryder Cup in the PGA of America regulations that made Koepka eligible to compete. The report claims that players who paid their yearly PGA of America dues before June 30, 2022 were eligible for the 2023 Ryder Cup thanks to a "grace period" that ran through June 2024.

With that "loophole" now expired, it was assumed that another wrinkle would need to be discovered or created for LIV players to become eligible to play in next year's Ryder Cup. 

The PGA of America, the governing body that runs the Ryder Cup on the U.S. side, announced on Thursday afternoon that LIV players will, in fact, be eligible next year.

"To ensure the PGA Championship will continue to deliver the strongest field in golf and that the U.S. Ryder Cup team will continue to have access to the best American players, the PGA of America board has determined that LIV Golf players will be eligible for both," a statement read.

"Going forward, all LIV Golf players are eligible for the PGA Championship and any American player who qualifies for the Ryder Cup on points or is added to the U.S. team as a captain's pick is eligible to compete."

Bradley made it clear shortly after he was named U.S. captain that he wants LIV players to be eligible.

"I’m going to have the best 12 players [at Bethpage] so the PGA of America need to figure that out, if that’s their problem," Bradley said. "I know you have to be a PGA [of America] member to play in the Ryder Cup. That’s the only stipulation. So we’ll make sure if some of those guys that we think might make the team, we’ll make sure that they are a member."

Both Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau may be ineligible to compete for the U.S. in the 2025 Ryder Cup. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

If the Ryder Cup started today, DeChambeau would automatically qualify for the team as he currently sits third on the points list after his impressive 2024 campaign that included his second U.S. Open title.

Under current regulations, LIV players only receive Ryder Cup points based on results in major championships, which stacks the odds heavily against them to finish in the Top Six on the points list and automatically qualify for the team.

The U.S. has lost eight of the last 11 Ryder Cups with two of those losses coming on home soil.