GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images
Dechambeau escapes a bunker during the third round of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday.

By Kent Gray
Bryson DeChambeau 2.0 was more like a slightly off-key version of his original self at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic on Saturday.

Blame that on a serious case of the sniffles – the defending champion did – but fret not for the final round; the 26-year-old has promised to bring back the new and improved Bryson for Sunday’s Dallah trophy shootout.

A sinus issue, distance control problems with his pitching wedge and some “weird” happenings on the Majlis’ seemingly pure greens saw DeChambeau trade six birdies with four bogeys on ‘moving day’. It felt more like he was in a frustrating holding pattern, thankfully with little damage done as he stumbled just a shot and one place down the leaderboard from his Saturday starting position into a three-way share of third on -9.

Just two back of 54-hole leader Ashun Wu and with a whole night to find a solution to his third round woes, DeChambeau insisted he’d be ready for Sunday, whatever the other contenders and Mother Nature throw at him.

Did you hear there could be winds gusting in excess of 40km/h, Bryson?

“Bring it. I love it,” the American retorted.

“I’m actually hitting it surprisingly really, really well right now. I figured something out last night and I implemented it today and it worked beautifully, it was just a couple of distance control things that kind of threw me off.

“So I’m going to go work on that, work on some putting, speed control, speed control was not good today… got to make sure that’s taut tomorrow.”

DeChambeau didn’t know what was more frustrating on Saturday, a blocked right ear or putts that simply refused to drop. He didn’t need his broom handle wand on the 12th where he chipped in and then made another birdie via two trips to the sand on the par 5 next, his drive finding the desert left and his approach a green-fronting bunker. A bogey at 14 followed before a birdie-birdie finish lightened a heavy head.

Yesterday you told us you weren’t feeling well, today you don’t look any better.

“No, I’m worse today. I couldn’t hear anything out of my right ear until number 13, it finally popped and that was helpful a little bit, but, boy, was it a struggle out there for me on the greens today. That’s okay, I’m going to go work on it a little bit. I didn’t feel like I was putting bad, it just seemed like putts were going weird ways and ways they shouldn’t. But I’m going to work on that and hopefully have that ready to go for tomorrow.”

Successfully defending would be something else considering his missed cut in Abu Dhabi and the lingering head cold.

“It would be incredible. Being under the weather and fighting through some of the stuff that happened last week and persevering this week would be a tremendous honour.”

And affirmation that the new, bulked-up Bryson is here to stay for good.