LIV Golf’s Bryson Dechambeau got off to a blistering start at The Masters, heading back to the clubhouse with the lead after a stunning opening round of 65 at Augusta National that included eight birdies and just one bogey.
Not only does that leave him an early contender to become the first LIV Golf player to win the title, but it should also help him lay to rest controversial comments he made four years ago about what he considered par at the iconic course.
Back then, the big-hitting American ruffled plenty of feathers when he said: "I'm looking at it as a par-67 for me because I can reach all the par-5s in 2, no problem. If the conditions stay the way they are, that's what I feel like par is for me. That's not me being bigheaded. I can hit it as far as I want to."
Some saw those remarks as disrespectful, while DeChambeau has largely failed to prove them correct in the intervening years. Indeed, before this year, he had only achieved a score as low as 67 once since, in the second round of the 2021 edition. Now, 13 rounds after the remarks, he has bettered it by some distance, and he heads into the second round on seven-under.
Since the comments, DeChambeau has addressed them, and he did so again after his round, saying: "I mean, yeah, sure. Again, the comment was definitely misinterpreted. I said it, and I respect people’s opinions on it.
"For me, I have a level of respect for this golf course that’s a little bit different than a couple years ago, and clearly today was a great test of golf, and I was able to conquer a very difficult golf course today. Regarding the 67 comment, you know, you mess up. I’m not a perfect person. Everybody messes up. You learn from your mistake, and that was definitely one."
DeChambeau also talked about his shortcomings at the Major, with a T21 while an amateur in 2016 still his best effort. He said: “Why have I struggled? I don't know. Only God knows that. For me, I can theorize on what it is, but there's really no need to.
"For me it's a focus of how do I execute the next best shot and put myself in a good place to make birdie or par and not make a big number, and I think I have made a lot of big numbers out here.
"So taking that off the radar and putting the golf ball in the correct place and having some equipment that performs well for me has been leading to some success recently."
He certainly had that on Thursday, and analyzed what went right with his round, which included three birdies in his first three holes. He said: "It's always great getting off to a hot start, 3-under through the first three holes kind of gets you settled.
"I knew it was going to be a tough day today with the wind and even tomorrow. So a lot of patience is required around this golf course and making sure you're just stroking on your line, putting it good, hitting good iron shots and driving it well."
DeChambeau will hope to continue in the vein of his opening round so that, come Sunday evening, his name will be less associated with those ill-advised comments on Augusta National and more with the Green Jacket.
