Had golf fans been told after day three that The Masters was going to be decided by a playoff, they would have been forgiven for assuming that it would probably be Bryson DeChambeau standing between Rory McIlroy and the green jacket.
It appeared to be the dream final day pairing for most viewers, with Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau in the last group on Sunday at The Masters. McIlroy was fighting to make history, while the LIV Golf star had the psychological edge following what had happened at last year’s US Open.
DeChambeau had referred to the pairing as a ‘match’, clearly indicating where he felt the tournament winner was likely to come from.
And DeChambeau swiftly joined the lead after McIlroy made a double bogey on the first hole. He would then go out in front with a birdie on the second. However, the 31-year-old would not make another birdie until the 14th.
The issue which cost Bryson DeChambeau The Masters
By that time, DeChambeau had dropped five shots and fallen completely out of contention. It was a remarkable run of holes for the Crushers captain.
DeChambeau appears to have found a formula in major championships. He has now finished in the top 10 in four out of the last five. However, it seemed surprising just how he did not have that next gear on Sunday at Augusta.
Perhaps we should not have been surprised at all.
Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Ryan Lavner suggested that DeChambeau’s recent struggles with the clubs in his bag was always going to hold him back at the crucial moment.
“Augusta National, you mentioned how much of a ball striker’s paradise it is and how important iron play is. Any guesses in who is the number one player in strokes gained approach for The Masters? Rory McIlroy, indeed led that category while Bryson DeChambeau was 51st in that category. The big, high draws are just not a good fit for what Augusta National requires,” he said.
“Yes, I know he is coming in at apexes which few players can reach but that sort of spin and shot shape with your approach play and not really varying it hole to hole has never really been a good fit for Bryson DeChambeau. All credit to him to even put himself in position given some of the spots he was finding himself in.
“He led the field in scrambling and strokes gained around the greens. He putted great, at least for a couple of days, I know he didn’t have his best performance on Sunday but I think what Bryson really showed is just an immense amount of grit and competitive spirit and heart. To have nowhere near his best approach game and yet still give it to a player who I think is playing by far the best golf of anybody on the planet. I think nothing but positives for Bryson. But I am not all that surprised by what transpired on Sunday.
“I thought it would be a runaway from Rory McIlroy, at least from Bryson DeChambeau, and it certainly was in that direction. But this is an issue which has plagued Bryson for the past couple of months and he didn’t find the magic elixir at Augusta National. He seems to think it’s an equipment issue and he is going to have some exciting news on the equipment front, very very soon, just as he did with the driver. I am not putting it past Bryson. I think the can figure it out. I think he does derive a lot of confidence from his equipment but it’s clear this has been an issue for the last couple of months and it was clear that it was going to cost him at The Masters.”
The data from Augusta National which will infuriate Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau has had more success at Augusta in the last couple of years. But he may still be a little concerned that he has gone backwards as the week has gone on.
Last year, he failed to break par after his opening round. This time, his 75 on Sunday was one of the worst scores of the day.
And the strokes gained data is particularly alarming. DeChambeau gained nearly one and a half shots on the field with his approach play on day one. But he would then lose five shots in that area over the remainder of the tournament.
| Round | Bryson DeChambeau’s strokes gained approach |
| One | +1.43 |
| Two | -0.78 |
| Three | -1.83 |
| Four | -2.40 |
It is obviously far too simplistic to say, but getting those five shots back would leave DeChambeau one shot clear of McIlroy and Justin Rose.
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