Ian Poulter has shared how one aspect of Bryson DeChambeau’s game completely blew him away when they played together last year, labelling it one of the most impressive performances he has ever seen.
There is a genuine debate to be had regarding whether some players have actually benefitted from moving to LIV Golf, with the likes of Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm not finishing inside the top 40 in either of the major championships so far this season.
However, one player who appears to have gone from strength to strength since defecting is Bryson DeChambeau, with the American one putt away from reaching a play-off at the PGA Championship last month. He also finished inside the top 10 at The Masters.
Of course, DeChambeau is known for his incredible distance off the tee, particularly since undergoing something of a physical transformation from late 2019.
Ian Poulter amazed by driving performance of Bryson DeChambeau
DeChambeau has competed in long drive events, and has maintained his remarkable power off the tee despite not being quite as big as he had been a few years ago.
Speaking on MajesticksGC’s Mid-Season Podcast, Ian Poulter was discussing competing against the players who hit the ball furthest off the tee and how it can be tempting to try and copy what others are doing, and he noted that he was amazed by what DeChambeau is capable of.
“Look what it did to Rory when Bryson beefed up, it sent Rory in the gym to try and hit it harder and harder and harder, right. He’s completely backed off of that, Bryson’s backed off of it, he’s realised that that wasn’t a gain that he needed. He hits the ball long enough. But what he needs to do is put the ball in the fairway,” he said.
“I played with him the back-end of last year, and I have to say, it’s one of the most clinical, most impressive driving of the golf ball [displays] I have ever seen. I can’t remember the average, but I think he averaged 330 yards off the tee that day, and I think he’d hit something like 12 of 14 fairways. It was really impressive.”
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It is going to be fascinating to see what legacy DeChambeau has on the game, given that he appears to do so much differently to what would be deemed to be traditional.
He was initially known for playing with a set of irons which are all one length, and he does appear to have a swing and putting stroke which is so unique.
It is the starkest reminder that there is more than one way to get the golf ball around a course successfully, and that may have an influence on the next few generations, with some trying to emulate DeChambeau, while others refuse to view the quirks within their games as reasons to hold them back.
And of course, few players have probably inspired more average golfers to look into speed training than DeChambeau.
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