DeChambeau doesn't regret not getting COVID-19 vaccine: 'I don't need it'

After missing the Olympics due to a positive COVID-19 test on July 23, Bryson DeChambeau said he still doesn't regret not getting vaccinated.

"The vaccine doesn't necessarily prevent it from happening," DeChambeau told reporters at TPC Southwind on Wednesday, according to ESPN's Bob Harig. "I'm young enough, I'd rather give it (the vaccine) to people who need it. I don't need it. I'm a healthy, young individual that will continue to work on my health."

DeChambeau, 27, said his father and mother have both been vaccinated, and that he didn't want to reduce the available supply for "people like that." According to the CDC, COVID-19 vaccines are "widely accessible in the U.S." and currently recommended for those age 12 and up.

Despite his unwillingness to receive the vaccine, DeChambeau suggested that he would be open to it in the future if it became "really, really mainstream."

As part of Olympic protocols, DeChambeau was required to take three separate COVID-19 tests 24 hours apart and receive negative results from all three prior to flying to Tokyo.

DeChambeau said that while he didn't feel any symptoms for the first two days after testing positive, he then started to feel ill.

"All of a sudden, started to feel tired. Started getting fully better two or three days ago," DeChambeau said. "For the most part, it's funny, you stay at home and you quarantine for so long, you just feel tired. You're not doing anything."

The California native is gearing up to try to get ready for this weekend's WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. He added that he's lost 8-10 pounds in the past two weeks and is trying to regain his form.

DeChambeau will be in a featured group alongside Dustin Johnson and Cameron Smith for the first two rounds in Memphis.