Johnson Wagner pinpoints the area of Bryson DeChambeau’s game which has improved so much in the last year and says he’s now hitting ‘ridiculous’ shots

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Bryson DeChambeau continued his remarkable recent run in the major championships at the PGA Championship, with the American finishing in a tie for second at Quail Hollow.

Bryson DeChambeau could have easily put himself on more than two major titles over the last 18 months. The 31-year-old has finished in the top six in five of the last six majors – including triumphing at the US Open at Pinehurst.

Ultimately, he did not come as close to winning the PGA Championship as he had done 12 months earlier, as he finished five shots back of Scottie Scheffler at Quail Hollow. But it was another promising week for the LIV Golf star.

DeChambeau continues to have problems with his iron game. But there is no question at all that he seems to have found a formula which allows him to peak on the biggest stages. And it would be no surprise to see him in contention to win the US Open once again at Oakmont next month.

Johnson Wagner says one part of Bryson DeChambeau’s game has improved so much in the last year

Obviously, DeChambeau’s driving is his biggest asset. He was first for strokes gained off the tee at the second major of the year.

However, it is another part of his game which has really caught the eye of Johnson Wagner. Speaking on 5 Clubs, Wagner claimed that he has been so impressed by how one area has got better and better.

“For me, the biggest improvement in his game that I’ve seen from last year to this year is his short game. He is capable of hitting some of the most ridiculous shots,” he said.

“Both Saturday and Sunday on 14, from brutal positions. Saturday to the front right, he’s over on top of the bunker and has this flop, it was into the wind but it was all downhill, he left it short of the hole. And then, 14 on Sunday, he’s in a similar spot but less green to work with, hits it to a tap in again. And then on 15, from long left of the green, I just think he’s got so many shots around the green. He seems to have a little more, not quite so rigid, this little whip right on the downswing, and it’s like he can throw the club under the ball with spin, catch it high on the face, stop it on a dime out of any sort of lie.”

What cost Bryson DeChambeau the PGA Championship crown

It does not take a maths genius to work out what really cost DeChambeau the tournament when you look at Scheffler’s strokes gained numbers this past week.

Scheffler finished five shots clear of DeChambeau. And when you look at the world number one’s numbers, there was just over five shots between the two with their approach play.

Obviously, there were gulfs between the two in the other categories. But had DeChambeau’s iron play been as good as Scheffler’s, the PGA Championship would have probably gone to a playoff.

Whether he had won or not from there, it would have been a real statement. As it is, DeChambeau is really not too far away despite there being huge room for improvement with his irons.