ROCHESTER (N.Y.) — Bryson deChambeau, 29, looked like he was destined to be a nose tackle on the Buffalo Bills a year ago. But after shooting a 66 in his opening round at Oak Hill Country Club this week, he looked more like either a runningback or safety.
The winner of the 2020 U.S. Open still has broad shoulders, and a muscular body, but he no longer has that bulk gained from chugging down protein shakes and working out hard to increase his speed. The sour attitude is gone, at least for one day. DeChambeau was more positive about his game than he had been for over a year.
DeChambeau did not expect Thursday’s performance.
DeChambeau stated, “I looked at the course throughout the week, and thought, ‘Man I don’t even know how shooting below par is possible here.'” “I was able play some really great golf. I hit a lot fairways and did my job.
Oak Hill was compared by players and pundits to a U.S. Open course, perhaps Winged Foot or Bethpage Black. It had thick rough, narrow greens and tricky fairways. DeChambeau also saw it and played U.S. Open style golf on Thursday, hitting 15 of 18 regulation greens and nine of 14 fairways from the tee. DeChambeau also averaged 347 yard per tee-shot — the man is still crazy fast — but Thursday’s consistent play was what DeCheambeau had been missing for more than a year.
He said, “It had been a long time since I’d played golf. It was great to be back and finally understand what was going on with my swing.” “I’ve been struggling with my driving, as I’ve said before. If you see me on the range I’m not happy to be there. I don’t like to stay out all night but I have to find out what made me successful in 2018. I feel as if I am catching up and moving in the right direction. “I figured out some things this past week and they paid off today.”
DeChambeau began the physical transformation after he couldn’t understand why he was feeling tired, sick, and rundown about a year earlier. A blood test was taken to check for food allergies and sensitivities. He realized he had to make changes.
He said, “I had an allergy to corn, wheat gluten, and dairy. Pretty much everything I like, I couldn’t have,” with a grin. “I removed that. In August I started taking it out and have lost all the inflammation, a lot fat and shrunk like crazy. I lost 18 pounds within 24 days. It was insane. It wasn’t even fat. “It was all water.”
Bryson deChambeau was greeted with high-fives from fans as he left the 18th hole at Oak Hill Country Club on Thursday. (David Dusek/Golfweek)
DeChambeau hasn’t lost any power by going from 5,500 to 2,900 calories per day and losing weight. He hit 6-iron and 8-irons into the 462-yard 7th hole on Thursday.
DeChambeau stated, “It was still a good asset and a fun experience, but now I want to play some great golf.”
DeChambeau’s physical changes are obvious, but his mental struggles are less visible. They begin to doubt themselves when players who have been successful start to struggle. DeChambeau missed the Masters cut and finished T56 at the U.S. Open in 2022 before joining the LIV Tour. He also missed the Masters cut last month. In a 48-man LIV field event with no cut, his best result was 10th in Chicago last year. He admitted that he questioned whether he would ever play elite-level golf again.
DeChambeau stated, “Emotions have fluctuated a lot. I’ve thought that I had something and then it failed and went back and forth.” “It’s humbling. “Golf and life will always kick you in the you-know-what when you’re on your high horse.
DeChambeau will be challenged physically and mentally by the remainder of the PGA Championship in 2023. Like any other golfer, he’ll be content if he continues to hit fairways and make putts. His attitude will be put to the test if he spends Friday hacking through the rough and watching his approach shots land in bunkers.
Bryson deChambeau showed on Thursday that he can still shoot low rounds in a major, even if the course is difficult. That was enough for Bryson DeChambeau on Thursday.
