DETROIT – Bryson DeChambeau hit the protein shakes and lifted the iron to transform his body, adding 40 pounds of mass, and changed his game to increase power.
The plan is working.
With jaw-dropping impulses and some clutch putts, DeChambeau won the Rocket Mortgage Classic by 3 strokes on Sunday for his first win of the season and sixth overall. He became the first PGA Tour player since 2004 to lead a tournament in driving distance, shots won from the tee and put.
“This is a little emotional for me because I did something a little different,” said DeChambeau, 26. “I changed my body, I changed my mindset in the game and I was able to achieve a victory by playing a completely different style of golf. And it is quite surprising to see that. I hope it will be an inspiration to many people.”
DeChambeau shot a 7-under-65 at the Detroit Golf Club, birdying four of the first seven holes and closing with three straight. He finished in the best race of 23 under 265.
Matthew Wolff (71) was second. He started the day with a 3-shot lead and hurt his chances with five bogeys in his first 10 holes. Kevin Kisner (66) completed another backward stroke as part of a relatively weak field that continued the exceptional playing trend since the PGA Tour restarted.
“The level of play on tour in these first four weeks has been incredible, cutting 4 and 5 every week,” said Kisner.
With a strong finish, DeChambeau removed all doubt that he would win the second Rocket Mortgage Classic.
He made a 30-foot putt birdie at number 16, which he said was his best shot of the day. He also had a short birdie putt on the next hole. And finally, he uncorked a 367-yard drive to set up another short birdie putt at 18.
DeChambeau came in the week with six consecutive results in the top eight and was the only player to top 10 in the first three events after the coronavirus pandemic restart. He first won on the PGA Tour since the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in November 2018. His most recent overall victory was at the Dubai Desert Classic on the Euro Tour last year.
DeChambeau has dramatically altered his body, now weighs around 240 pounds in his 6-foot-1 frame, and took advantage of the extra time he had to work on his physique during the pandemic.
“He understands what is the key to getting the most advantage and that is distance and mega distance,” said Kisner. “He just has too much free time. He needs to start getting married and having children and feel like the rest of us.”
DeChambeau’s power was on full display in Motor City with units going 351 yards on average as it looked like it might break its peaks.
When DeChambeau was tee boxing on the 1399 399-yard, par-4 field, he waited for the group in front of him to leave the green before hitting his drive to avoid hitting any competitors.
“No, I have never done that,” he acknowledged. “It really could have gotten there.”
His 621-yard par 621 fourth run went left and landed on the putting green in an adjacent hole. He cleared towering trees and landed just before the green, sending his approach to 276 yards and then two shots from 37 feet.
“That was probably my second best time of the day,” said DeChambeau. “Really, honestly, I was very lucky to be able to overcome these trees and let it land and roll towards the front edge of the green.”
As his body and power have become a fixation for those who follow golf, there are more eyes on him and the extra attention bothered him during the third round.
On Saturday, DeChambeau had an irritable exchange with a television cameraman after a bogey on the sixth hole. After the third round, he became angry saying that it is not correct to show potential vulnerability and damage someone’s image.
However, DeChambeau tried to soften his stance on the subject on Sunday by saying the cameraman was just trying to do his job.
During the final round, he was also briefly distracted by a commotion off the field.
While protesting against social injustice outside the Detroit Golf Club, breaking the silence of the event without fans with chants and horns, DeChambeau took time to restart before reaching a 366-yard unit.
“I know there is a lot of struggle and problems at the moment,” he said. “I love that everyone expresses their opinion and I think they deserve to do it.”
“We are golfers here trying to provide the best entertainment. I think that is the most important thing we can do.”
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