Bryson DeChambeau is learning to be comfortable in his own skin. The field at the Saudi International has been warned.

By Kent Gray
It was PR gold. Speaking via video link as part of the preview push for the 4th Saudi International, Bryson DeChambeau let journalists know that a new, lower-lofted driver head was in the mail.

“You’ll be seeing a lot longer drives,” promised the 28-year-old American Ryder Cupper, already well-documented as one of the longest hitters in golf.

Cue the “Bryson Proofed” headlines, a sure-fire ticket seller and global TV prompt for the Asian Tour’s new, $5 million season-opener starting Feb. 3.

“We’ll need to get some hard hats out on the course then,” the moderator said. He was only half-pie joking too as DeChambeau was pumping drivers out over the driving range onto the 12th hole at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club last year.

It turns out tournament organisers, Golf Saudi, had already erected a fence at the end of the range in anticipation of DeChambeau’s warm-up projectiles this year. Still, it was a nice early headline focused on the tournament, rather than on why he hasn’t signed up to be part of the PGA Tour’s upcoming Netflix exposé. Thankfully, much like DeChambeau’s game beyond the eye-popping driving statistics, there was much more depth to come.

Like how he hit a low ebb after contracting COVID-19, forcing him to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics.

“I was quarantined at home, stayed inside, the whole thing. It was just a very, very sad moment in my life. There are other moments that were kind of sad for me, but that was more like, man, I’m missing the Olympics. Something that I qualified and worked my whole life for.”

The other sad moments? Caused mostly by the haters, some big names inside the ropes and countless more faceless trolls online that accompany DeChambeau wherever he goes. It got to the point where he even contemplated walking away from the game. The weight of expectation on DeChambeau after his 2020 U.S. Open win, some of it admittedly brought on himself as he willingly brought the fans along for the ride on his controversial bulk up and bully it regime, was becoming too much to bear.

“It was changing my perspective on everything,” DeChambeau explained. “Everything was so heightened with how far ahead — oh, he’s going to win every week. He’s going to do this or that or whatever. Sometimes the let downs were super difficult.

“Then last year with everything going against me, whether it was media, the players or whatever it was, it became a lot on a human being. It’s amazing what people can do when they tell you you’re this or that all the time [even] when you know it’s not true personally in the background.

“You’re doing a lot for charity. You’re doing a lot for people around you… and continue to provide the best entertainment for the world of golf, and it becomes difficult sometimes. But as time goes on, you have to realise what are you doing this for? And how can you continue to improve in that quest in inspiring a next generation or inspiring someone to work harder?

“Sometimes it’s difficult. Sometimes I fail at it. Sometimes I get mad and frustrated like everyone else does, we’re all human. The biggest part is I hope people realise we’re all human. As much as I’m trying to influence the game of golf in a positive way, people are like, no, we don’t like that or we don’t want that change, that’s not what is good for the game. Whatever their thoughts are, I just hope people have a different level of respect no matter what. They don’t try and push anyone away.”

The world No.9 will tee it up at Royal Greens having finished a disappointing T25 in the Sentry Tournament of Champions last month before a wrist injury, brought on by training for long driving competitions, forced his withdrawal from the Sony Open the following week. He added the Farmers Insurance Open to his schedule the week before Saudi as a result so was scheduled to land in the Kingdom sharpened by recent tournament play.

“So definitely have my sights on Augusta and can’t wait to see what I can do with this new length and new driver, less spin rate, more control. Hopefully that’s a huge asset for me when I play,” DeChambeau said of plan beyond the ambition to contest at Royal Greens. 

“Because it’s funny, like at Kapalua, my 50 yards to 150 yards, I was No. 1 in strokes gained that week. What the heck? I never practised it, and I was No. 1.

“It’s kind of weird how the game of golf works. It throws stuff at you that you’d never expect, and that’s what’s so beautiful about it.”

What isn’t weird is the realisation DeChambeau has to rein in the self-expectation, a product of the “Thanksgiving Masters” in 2020 when he went in as an overwhelming favourite after overpowering Winged Foot for a six-stroke U.S. Open victory over Matthew Wolff.

“I had so much pressure on me, and it was definitely a different feeling that everyone was watching me and seeing how I’m going to play the golf course and what not.

“That definitely threw me for a loop. I’m okay with it. I’m still learning. Now that time has gone on and people realise that distance isn’t everything but it’s a huge factor and it’s fun to watch.

“For me, I’m going to continue to grow my game in the best way I possibly can, being a better putter, chipper, wedger, long driver, everything. As time goes on, I have to rein in those expectations and just learn to be me. Don’t try and be anybody else.”

Just stick with being Bryson DeChambeau. Sounds simple.

“That’s honestly all I want. I don’t want to be a super controversial figure. I just want to be someone that people can look up to and aspire to be like and just inspire them to work harder.

“As time has gone on, the expectation levels have definitely changed from a look and performance standpoint. Do I still want to win every week? Do I want to be the best player in the world? Absolutely. But I feel like as time is going on, I’m settling into a figure that I’m very, very comfortable with.”