Why Bryson DeChambeau Has Caused A Stir In Golf?

Bryson DeChambeau has had quite a transformation over the last 18 months. The American has put on over 20lbs of muscle which has helped him drive the ball much further off the tee on the golf course.
Before his notable change in physique, DeChambeau was very capable of having success. He was a five-time PGA Tour winner. Not satisfied with where his game was going though, the man from California felt he needed to improve his strength to take the next step in the sport.

The early signs suggest this significant change to his body has worked. He is now a Major winner after prevailing in the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot. He also scored last year in the Rocket Mortgage Classic, finishing that PGA Tour event with a final score of -23.

DeChambeau will be targeting more Major glory in 2021, however, his chances may have taken a hit recently as golf’s governing body are looking into a rule change which would ban 48-inch drivers. This is being looked at in March, just weeks before the start of the US Masters at Augusta National.

The American is very capable of blasting his ball off the tee close to 400 yards on many of the par four and five holes in Georgia, with or without the 48-inch drive. Therefore, the impact may be minimal. Many of his rivals though, feel the club should be banned in order to make it more of a level playing field in the sport.

DeChambeau is 11/1 in the golf betting for the 2021 US Masters. He has only Dustin Johnson (6/1), Rory McIlroy (9/1) and Jon Rahm (10/1) ahead of him in the outright market for the Green Jacket. Johnson currently holds the top spot in the World Golf Rankings, a position the Scientist is looking to reach in the near future. Victory in Georgia will help him close the gap.

His Form At Augusta Has Not Been Great

The seven-time PGA Tour winner went into the US Masters in 2020 as many golf pundits’ pick for the tournament. They felt his extra distance would prove the telling factor, however, he could only finish in a tie for 34th place as Johnson came out on top after the 72 holes.

This year will be DeChambeau’s fifth appearance in the Major Championship at Augusta. The best he has fared so far is a tie for 21st, which he achieved as an amateur in 2016. In all four of his visits to the tournament, he has made the cut.

The Scientist will be hoping for a bit more control from the tee this year. Last November, he was very erratic which meant finding the greens proved more difficult. He will be expected to score heavily on the par-five holes, where there should be lots of eagle opportunities for the world number nine.

DeChambeau may not be the most popular player on the PGA Tour, but he has done something to break the norm. Time will tell if it proves to be a move that sees him reach the very top in the sport.