Of howitzer hits, image tantrums and some slip-sliding away

By Rahul Banerji

Bryson DeChambeau and his Bofors-style hits off the tee are now front and centre on the PGA Tour, and in the debate on where modern golf is headed.

Launching at an average of over 350 yards off the tee, the 26-year-old bludgeoned the field at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit to finish with a three-shot win over Matthew Wolff on Sunday.

In between, there was a minor blip when the player lost his cool at a TV cameraman who was filming his reactions to some muffed bunker play on day three.

DeChambeau swiped at the sand having mis hit the shot and was apparently upset at having his response caught on camera, but later explained that he was worried that the exchange would “damage his brand”.

For Indian fans, it was a matter of so near, and yet so far as Arjun Atwal capped a strong run over the first three days with a 1-over par 73 that saw him finish in a tie for 45^th place overall.

And spare a thought for young Indian-American Sahit Theegala. The multiple collegiate awardee, including player of the year, missed the cut with a two-day total of 2-under 142, but was in very good company as the likes of Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson and Brandt Snekeker did so too.

Solid progress

Overall, it was DeChambeau’s fourth start since the season resumed at Fort Worth last month and fetched his sixth PGA Tour title overall from his 104^th start.

It’s not just the length of his hits, with driver, iron or wedge, It is the accuracy that DeChambeau has brought to his game that is becoming the talking point in golf circles (see driving stats at bottom).

At the Detroit Golf Cub. DeChambeau led the field in not just strokes gained off the tee, but also in strokes gained on the green, besides of course topping the field in driving distance with an average hit of 350.6 yards.

The Michigan outing also capped DeChambeau’s transition from the Professor to the Beefman as he linked his 40 pounds of muscle gained in recent months to accuracy and finishing.

“It’s a little emotional for me,” he said following his Sunday card of 7-under 65.

“Because I did do something a little different, I changed my body, I changed my mindset in the game, and was able to accomplish a win while playing a completely different style of golf.”

“I hope it’s an inspiration to a lot of people that if they set their mind to it, you can accomplish it.

‘Hard work’

“It just takes a lot of hard work, a lot of figuring out things that you may not know and understand yet.

“But if you keep … working on it, figuring stuff out, eventually you’ll get a little bit better each and every day, and hopefully that leads to something great in the end.”

Overnight leader Wolff overcame a dreadful final day start to at one point pull to within one shot of DeChambeau. But three birdies in his last three holes closed out the title in style.

It gave DeChambeau a seventh consecutive top-10 finish and made him the only player with top-10 finishes in each of the first four events since the Tour resumed.

Atwal’s run

Having recorded cards of 70, 69 and 66, Atwal’s final day card was blotted with a bogey and a double bogey that saw him slip-slide down the leader-board.

The 47-year-old, making only his ninth start of the season and the first since play resumed was not too disappointed.

“Considering the long layoff, I trended well and there were a lot of positives. Lets see where I go next,” he was quoted as having said. It was his third cut from the season’s nine starts.

After Saturday, Atwal said, “Started with a three-putt and ended with a three-putt. But other than that, it was pretty solid from tee to green.

I’m still trying to shake off the rust as well. I haven’t walked a great deal. Even when I’m playing at home, it’s mainly in carts. My feet, they’re killing me – I haven’t worn golf shoes and walked a lot recently.

“Other than that I feel great.”

Bryson’s bombs

377 yards
376 yards
374 yards
367 yards
366 yards
365 yards
364 yards
363 yards
362 yards
355 yards
355 yards
355 yards
355 yards
354 yards
353 yards
352 yards
348 yards
348 yards
346 yards
345 yards
344 yards
344 yards

Also read: Leaner, fitter Atwal out to enjoy his new self on golf course