One of the comments Bryson DeChambeau probably regrets making most came in 2020 when he claimed that Augusta National should be a par 67 for him due to his distance off the tee.
Bryson DeChambeau has rarely been afraid to cause a stir during his career. But even he admitted in 2024 that his comments about The Masters course were a mistake.
Unfortunately, the LIV Golf star did not help himself by struggling at Augusta National over the years. Before 2024, his best finish in the first major of the year came back in 2016 when he just missed out on the top 20 as the low amateur.
However, last year proved to be a turning point for DeChambeau.
Bryson DeChambeau suggests whether he has worked out Augusta after his best Masters finish
His 65 on Thursday saw him take the first round lead, and he remained top of the leaderboard despite posting a 73 in the second round. He was still not out of it after a 75 on Saturday, but the two-time US Open champion ultimately had to settle for a tie for sixth.
Given that DeChambeau followed that by finishing second at the PGA Championship and then winning at Pinehurst, it appeared that he may have found a formula which allowed him to peak at the majors.
And with the 2025 Masters looming, DeChambeau was asked whether he had worked something out at Augusta last year.
“I think every year you go to Augusta and the Master you are learning more and more. That place is a special place that requires a lot of patience. You are not always going to get it your first time around or you second, third or fourth. It takes time to understand the nuances of that place. And it’s a very tricky and intricate place. That is why I think it’s an accumulation of a lot of factors coming into play. I had a driver that has worked pretty dang well now and have used it quite a bit. That has been a tremendous asset. I think over the course of time it will be one of those games of learning little bits here and there to get to know some small places a little bit better. It’s not really one thing that I could lock down and nail it down to one to be, it’s just being a little bit smarter around the golf course,” he said.
“It is just about learning a bit more you hit certain shots of a different wind, off a certain lie. It’s tricky out there. You have to really focus on where you are hitting the ball out there strategically. It’s a brilliant design that plays differently almost every single time you go out there,” he went on to add.
Where Bryson DeChambeau felt he fell short at the 2024 Masters
Ultimately, it felt as if Scheffler won last year’s Masters at something of a canter. It was early on in the back nine when all of his potential challengers seemed to fall away. And he ended up finishing seven shots clear of those who were tied for third.
DeChambeau appeared to be in the mix after he made birdie on four and five. However, he was unable to find that next gear, and ended up making 12 pars in 13 holes on his way in.
And following that final round, he explained where he found the biggest challenges over the course of the day.
“Didn’t help starting two over through three in the final round of the Masters. You know what, it was a positive step in the right direction for me out here. Learned a lot about my game and knowing that I can do it out here,” he said.
“Just got to conquer the putting a little bit more and make sure my speed control is a little bit better. I’d be right up there where Scottie is now if I just wouldn’t have three-putted and made a few more putts.
“Ball striking has to be a little bit better. Have to take advantage of the par fives. I did not take advantage of the par fives this week. That was the weak point. Felt like I played the par fours nicely, and the tough holes I usually struggle on 10, five, 11 even, I did my job this week with that. Just really disappointing on the par fives, especially where I drove it today, all week.
“13 was a little weird. I got a mud ball today. Just that’s golf. You’re not going to have everything perfect. A lot of good experience that I gained this week. I’m very proud of myself.”
DeChambeau has not exactly made his mark on LIV so far this season, so expectations may be fairly low ahead of the first major of the year.
But last year hinted that he had found a way to peak for the four biggest events of the year. So he will be confident that his best performance of the season so far is just around the corner.
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