David Cannon/Getty Image
By Joel Beall
Bryson DeChambeau has apologised after cameras caught the five-time PGA Tour winner damaging a green during the WGC-Mexico Championship.
“I want to apologise to my fans, fellow players and the staff at Chapultepec for my actions following the round yesterday,” DeChambeau said. “I am an extremely passionate player and I am always working on ways to be better. I am certainly not perfect but I respect the grounds staff and the game of golf and am focused on working harder on this just like I do on my golf game.”
DeChambeau struggled on Thursday, his four-over 75 leaving him 12 shots behind first-round leader Rory McIlroy. Most of the issues could be attributed to the flat stick, ranking 71st out of the 72-player field in strokes gained: putting on the day. The Mad Scientist channelled his frustration by slamming his putter into a green, an act that played out behind former PGA champ Rich Beem in a SkySports interview.
Bryson DeChambeau damaging a green in anger, yesterday in Mexico. ??pic.twitter.com/HyT6PCC4tL
— National Club Golfer (@NCGMagazine) February 22, 2019
This is the second time in as many weeks DeChambeau, who is up to No. 5 in the world rankings, let his emotions ring out on a golf course. During the Genesis Open, the 25-year-old slammed his wedge into a bunker.
I’d say this was worse than Sergio’s bunker temper-tantrum. #golfdestruction pic.twitter.com/imyXAkhRgE
— Hogan’s Book Lied (@HogansBookLied) February 15, 2019
The incidents also resurfaced DeChambeau’s outburst at the Carnoustie driving range during last summer’s Open Championship.
Not sure if this came out last week but last night was first time I saw it.
L’Artiste battling the demons on the range in the middle of a major. Appears at one point he must have upended the studio in a fit of rage — paintbrushes scattered all over the range. Heavy stuff. pic.twitter.com/SOYP2wZh6X
— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) July 27, 2018
In August Bryson admitted that he’s a work in progress when it comes to restraining his temper, but that he ultimately hopes to harness it into something productive.
“That struggle. Absolutely. That struggle is what led me to this point,” DeChambeau said at Ridgewood C.C. during the Northern Trust. “You know, that’s the thing that people sometimes miss, is the fact that those moments when you’re at your relatively speaking, lowest, are the times when you can learn the most.”