Bryson DeChambeau’s changeup aids early PGA Championship edge

ROCHESTER N.Y. — About all that’s left. Bryson deChambeauMore than his golf swing has transformed during his career his body. DeChambeau, who bulked up a few years back to hit the ball further off the tee, has now slimmed down significantly to conserve energy.

The change, and a few others, helped to produce some positive results during the first round of the PGA Championship on Thursday at Oak Hill Country Club. DeChambeau shot a 4-under 66 with six birdies, two bogeys, and a total of six pars.

DeChambeau said that his emotions have fluctuated a lot, from high to low. He thought he had something and then it failed, and went back and forth. “The emotions have definitely fluctuated pretty high and pretty low, thinking I have something and it fails and going backwards,” said DeChambeau. The former No.4 has since fallen to the No. 214 on the Official World Golf Ranking. “It’s humbling. Always golf and life. [has]A good way to knock you down when you’re on your high horse. It’s good to feel this today.”

DeChambeau has reduced his daily calorie intake from 5,000 to 2,900. He claims to weigh between 210 and 215. He has stopped consuming foods that cause inflammation in his body such as wheat, corn, gluten, and dairy products. DeChambeau reported that he lost 18 lbs in 24 days following the diet he began in August.

DeChambeau stated, “It’s crazy.” “It wasn’t fat. It was all water. You know what I looked like before. “I wasn’t skinny.”

DeChambeau didn’t stop there. The 2020 U.S. Open champ jumped to LIV Golf from the PGA Tour, where he’s captain of Crushers GC. He also changed his caddie, swing coach and equipment company.

DeChambeau thought he could defeat professional golf using brute strength and speed. He once boasted that Augusta National Golf Club was a par-67 golf course, because of how far his balls were hitting off the tee. He won national long-driving competitions.

DeChambeau was sixth in the field after his round, despite losing a considerable amount of weight. He was up nearly 2.5 strokes after hitting 9 out of 14 fairways.

DeChambeau, at least for 18 holes, was not only hitting the ball far, but also hitting it straight. This is something he hadn’t always done before.

DeChambeau said, “That was the most surprising part. I’m used to hitting it everywhere.” “Look, it might happen tomorrow.” I don’t believe it will happen, but I am really confident. Golf is an odd animal. You will never be able to have it like Arnie [Arnold Palmer] said. You never know when it will leave. Just be careful.”

DeChambeau was also impressive in the first-round with his other aspects of his game. He was gaining two strokes in putting and hit 15 out of 18 greens.

“Geez! He played great,” said Keegan Bradley, who played alongside DeChambeau Thursday and shot a 2-under-68. “It was Bryson. He putted and drove the ball very well. It was nice to see him. He was smashing his drives again, and played pretty flawless golf.”

DeChambeau, who is often called “the Scientist” due to his physics degree at Southern Methodist University, said he may finally be done with experimenting with his own body and game.

“I just want to be stable,” he said. “I am tired of trying new things and changing. Could I push it a bit further? Could I get a bit stronger? Sure. I will not go all out. It was fantastic. … Shoot, I can hit my 8-iron 200 yards now. It was a fun and interesting experiment. I’m ready to play some golf now.