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The American reaches incredible distances on the golf course. Now, some fear that Bryson DeChambeau will also undermine the architecture of the Masters.
No one hits that powerful: Bryson DeChambeau regularly depletes the mass of golf courses.
Photo: Kelvin Kuo (Reuters / USA TODAY Sports)
When the Masters was last held at the Augusta National Golf Club on Magnolia Lane, along which the grass is probably clipped, one man captivated the golf scene: Tiger Woods, who had become an icon and then he plunged deep into private life. and physical problems and whoever finally came back in the middle – won. Of nothing. He achieved his fifteenth major eleven years after his fourteenth, which made his success even more glamorous. But now, in November 2020? Woods’ triumph seems light years ago.
The world of golf has changed at a breakneck pace in a way that it had not done since the early days of Woods. When the most important big tournament is held on Thursday, postponed by the pandemic, many professionals, ex-professionals and observers will ask themselves a question marked more by fear than by euphoria: Will Bryson DeChambeau destroy Augusta? So mastering the course like playing miniature golf? “I’m concerned about what it might do to this place,” said Welshman Ian Woosnam, 62, who won the Masters green jacket in 1991, according to the Telegraph newspaper.
Does not accept borders
It was in 1997 that Woods began making significant changes to the golf circuit. The miraculous talent, trained by his late father Earl, became the youngest Masters champion at the age of 21 and brought an unprecedented level of professionalism to his sport, as well as a new athleticism. But Woods saw a limit. Its limit was reproducible perfection. DeChambeau, 27, like Woods a Californian, does not want – and that is what is revolutionary – to accept any development limits.
He wants to keep hitting, more and more, with more precision, more controlled. He uses a body as a base, pumping out six or seven protein shakes every day, driving machines, and medically supervising.
I can guarantee you that you don’t take steroids. I know people doubt it, but we take it as a compliment.
Of course, such an extreme and unprecedented approach polarizes people. His team is aware that doubts arise about whether everything is going well. “When you see changes like this, you think someone is taking steroids,” his fitness trainer Greg Roskopf recently told the New York Times, “but I can guarantee he is not taking steroids. I know people doubt it, but we take it as a compliment because it shows that the path works. DeChambeau also undergoes doping tests on a regular basis, and wouldn’t mind getting checked at any time. This is how he sees it on his team.
The very good pro from the US tour, who was still normally built a year ago, has in any case morphed into a bloated looking champion. When DeChambeau, 20 kilos heavier, returned to play after the Corona break, that was the beginning of his era. After a few top spots, he won a regular PGA event and then the US Open with ease, six strokes ahead. He is called a “mad scientist” because he studied physics, he was always obsessed with fiddling with details and, instead of playing with axes of different lengths, more than everyone else, for example. DeChambeau calls what he does a “fun experiment.”
When he recently measured his ball’s throwing speed on training ground and broke the magic number of 200 miles per hour, he showed the moment to his fan base on the internet. It’s like American kindergartens when they play Show & Tell. With the difference that millions can be made in golf. DeChambeau is now selling well with its unique selling proposition. There he is also a professional.
Can play more aggressively
Most are unanimous in their assessment of what you will do with the most significant specialty. Former great Gary Player said it would take DeChambeau a “normal week” to win. American pro Jordan Spieth is certain that “he can only beat himself.” DeChambeau has not lowered his expectations, which is why he has focused all his preparation on the Masters. After the US Open, he only competed in one tournament, trained, and developed punching strength and speed. Breaking the 200 mph sound barrier was a real concern for him.
He studied Augusta’s famous 18 orbits as diligently as if he were exploring the proper landing site for a probe on a planet for NASA. He played rehearsal rounds, again on Monday, with Woods, Justin Thomas and Fred Couples. American journalists reported that DeChambeau’s balls were on average up to 30 meters further than those of his high-profile colleagues. A distance difference that allows completely different strategies. More aggressive. And in doing so, contrary to plan, you probably want to do without a 48-inch (1.20 meter) long shaft in the driver for now. Otherwise, this excess length is only used in long riding competitions.
The sand bunker? No longer on the road
DeChambeau is also a great scientist at Augusta. You have drawn up a detailed plan of the paths in which you want to act differently than usual. Above all: different from the competition. These are basically all holes except for the shorter par 3s like the 16th hole.
Its advantage is that it can avoid obstacles as if they did not exist. On the first track, there is a sand bunker near the usual landing zone for balls hit by the professionals, 270 meters away. DeChambeau can now get over it and ideally has to take a smaller iron or just a wedge for the second hit; These sticks allow for greater precision. Or you can hit trees on hole nine, others have to play through the tree alley. So there is advantage after advantage.
With all the meticulousness and all the ambition, DeChambeau really seems laid back. He packs up his ambitions very well. “My goal is to inspire a new generation of golfers to think differently. Just get out there and shoot bombs. Augusta would be the right setting for it. ”After all, it’s a fun experiment.
