[ad_1]
Bryson DeChambeau, the longest-serving driver on the PGA Tour, is the pre-tournament favorite for the Masters; US Open champion plays alongside world number 2 Jon Rahm and 2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen in the first two rounds, with live coverage throughout the week on Sky Sports
By Mathieu Wood
Last updated: 10/11/20 22:56 pm
Bryson DeChambeau and Tiger Woods played together in practice on Monday
Change the game. This is the impact golf insiders believe Bryson DeChambeau could have on the sport with his approach to power as he aims for consecutive main wins this week at the Masters.
The American, who has undergone a much-debated physical transformation in the last year, divides viewers with his aggressive game plan but his dedication has earned him the respect of his fellow professionals.
Not immediately after DeChambeau overtook Winged Foot to win his first major in September and his focus quickly shifted to his preparation for Augusta National.
“I’ve only seen improvements in strength gain, obviously I’ve been feeling better every day, so I don’t really know where the end of the game is,” DeChambeau told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday.
In a recon round last week, with 1998 champion Sandy Lyle, the world number 12 flew to the green with a three-wood tee on the 350-yard par four. Last month, DeChambeau revealed firing data showing a unit carrying 403 yards.
Those numbers would actually see it transform the par 72 layout into a par 68.
Rumors suggest that DeChambeau may be looking to clear out the pines on the 13th par-five dogleg to reach the 14th fairway, giving himself a better angle on the green.
In his quest to overwhelm every golf course he sets foot on, the seven-time PGA Tour winner has been training in the past few weeks with a 48-inch driver, the longest shaft allowed. On Tuesday, he did not commit to using the club despite the “really promising” results.
Such was the pre-tournament focus on DeChambeau that some comparisons were made between the 27-year-old and how Tiger Woods overpowered Augusta on her way to her first major in 1997.
2:23 Tiger Woods reflects on how the game has changed since his first Masters win in 1997 and praises Bryson DeChambeau for his development.
Woods became the youngest Masters winner at just 21 years and 104 days and his overall score of 18 under par remains the lowest in tournament history, with Jordan Spieth matching him in 2015.
But while full of admiration for his compatriot, 15-time main winner and reigning champion Woods says advances in technology mean any similarity would not be accurate if DeChambeau triumphs on Sunday.
Get Sky Sports Golf for just £ 10 per month
All four days of The Masters live exclusively. Get our £ 10 golf offer. Find out more here.
Woods said: “I happened to have speed and I happened to hit the ball in the middle of the face and I could have a bit of an advantage over the guys.
“But now you have the ability to optimize a team and to be able to use that driver as a weapon, to hit him pretty much as far as possible, we just didn’t have the technology to be able to optimize him.
“And Bryson put the time. He put it to work. What he did in the gym was incredible and what he did on the pitch and what he did with his entire team to be able to optimize that club and transform the club. his game and the ability to hit the ball as much as he has and as quickly as possible has never been done before.
3:10 Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley believes bookmaker favorite Bryson DeChambeau will not win this week’s Masters, and he also evaluates the hopes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
“You know, I had speed, and as you say, in ’97, I hit it far away. As I got bigger and filled up and tried to get stronger, it was to not hit the ball further. It had to be more consistent. and to be able to practice longer. “
DeChambeau is the longest rider on the PGA Tour, averaging 344 yards, and believes the absence of customers lining the fairways could serve as an advantage as he tries to open better corners on the green.
Put simply, his plans include averaging 320 yards off the tee, taking advantage of two par-fives on the rear nine – 13 and 15 – and driving him past the bunkers on 18.
2:30 US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau believes the absence of patrons will allow him to attack Augusta National, but admits his short game will need to be at his best.
“I can hit him as much as I want, but it’s about putting in and chipping away,” said DeChambeau, who will partner with world number 2 Jon Rahm and Louis Oosthuizen in the first two rounds.
“This is one of the things that people sometimes struggle to see. As much as I gain an advantage from the tee, I still have to chip it well, put it well and fit it well, the iron plays well too.
“That’s what I did at the US Open. If I don’t do it right at the US Open, don’t frame it right, don’t hit my neighbor irons, I don’t win that tournament.”
3:59 Fifteenth club content manager Justin Ray analyzes the five key components a golfer needs to be successful at Augusta National.
Bryson tries to challenge the doubters again
Analysis of the presenter of Sky Sports Golf Nick Dougherty…
“It’s changing the way others, including Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods, are watching the game. He’s increased in volume. He’s put on so much weight in terms of muscle mass, the workout he’s doing for add distance …
“This is naive to so many of us in our sport. At the US Open he would try to bully a US Open venue. It won’t work, it has never happened before … [but] she did it. So many of us in sports – and we’ve been watching it for so many years – were wrong.
When is The Masters on Sky Sports?
Ways to watch The Masters live on Sky Sports’ dedicated Masters channel.
“He will try to apply the same philosophy to Augusta National. You better be careful because at the time Tiger won in 1997, they said this is a par-68 for this guy.
“Because he was hitting an average of 323 yards off the tee that week. Never seen him before. Bryson will overtake him this week and maybe for the first time we will see him play as a par-68 for someone else.
“I don’t think the Augusta National green jackets will be liked.”
Watch The Masters this November live on Sky Sports, with all four rounds live exclusively on Sky Sports’ Masters channel. Live coverage begins with featured bands from 12.30pm Thursday 12th November.
Get the best prices and book a ride on any of 1,700 courses in the UK and Ireland
.
[ad_2]
Source link
