Bryson DeChambeau was among the star names taking on The Open Championship in 2022, which took place at the home of golf.
The Old Course at St. Andrews welcomed several of the best players in the world to Scotland in 2022, including the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
But along with the excitement in the build-up to The 150th Open, there was concern about what could happen to the historic venue.
Worries were raised that the game’s biggest hitters could have a field day on the Old Course, particularly with the mild temperatures and modest winds that week.
What Bryson DeChambeau said about St. Andrews being overpowered by modern day golfers
Unsurprisingly, DeChambeau was at the centre of the discussion, having gained a reputation as one of the biggest hitters in world golf.
As reported by NBC Sports, he didn’t expect the event to “turn into a referendum on the distance-crazed pro game that has largely gone unchecked by the governing bodies.”
DeChambeau commented: “No, definitely not. You’ll see this week that it’s about more than just length. We may shoot 20 under. OK. What does that matter?
“We’re athletes, and we’re going to continue to get stronger and bigger and faster and more consistent to try to find ways to shoot lower scores. Does that make courses obsolete? I don’t think so.
“If the fans want to see low scores, give them low scores. If they want even par, put the pins on a side slope. There’s totally opportunities for that to happen.”
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How Jack Nicklaus felt about potential low scores at St. Andrews at The Open in 2022
Legendary figure Jack Nicklaus was also in attendance at St. Andrews that week, with the icon having also been tasked with discussing the Old Course.
He was asked for his thoughts on how low the players could shoot given the calm conditions and the added length in the modern game.
In a similar light to DeChambeau, Nicklaus replied: “Might shoot low. So what? That’s sort of the way I look at it. They’re shooting low now compared to what they shot 100 years ago.
“But times change and golfers get better, equipment gets better, conditions get better. Shoot low scores. But I don’t think it really makes a whole lot of difference, frankly.
“It’s St. Andrews and it is what it is, and it will produce a good champion. It always has. That’s the way I look at it.”
It was absolutely a low-scoring affair in the end, with champion Cam Smith securing a record in that regard.
He shot 20-under on the Old Course, equalling Henrik Stenson’s total at Royal Troon in 2016 for the joint lowest score to par in the history of The Open.
The Australian secured a one-shot victory over Cameron Young, while DeChambeau finished T8 on 12-under.
And rather than being a big-hitting battle from the tee, Smith ultimately decided his fate with a putting masterclass in Scotland.
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