The Telegraph

Bryson DeChambeau’s subsequent trick? A 48-inch driver to bomb the Masters

And for his subsequent trick… After beautiful the golf world together with his outrageous efficiency on the US Open, through which he made the remainder invisible in his six-shot subjugation, Bryson DeChambeau now plans to make use of a 48-inch driver at The Masters in six weeks time. That could be a mighty wand by any normal. Certainly, the principles state that’s the most size of shaft allowed. Along with his new standing, it might be a courageous and maybe even difficult ploy on DeChambeau’s behalf. However it’ll come after what many specialists think about to be a basic change within the historical past of the sport at Winged Foot, New York on Sunday evening. It was not meant to occur like this. No person was meant to overpower Winged Foot with its pencil-thin fairways, its brush-thick tough and greens so slopey and quick that ink, itself, would roll off. But DeChambeau ignored all of the warnings, all the guarantees of carnage and proceeded to blow straight over a supposed monster. DeChambeau hit solely 23 of the 56 fairways, the least of any US Open champion since they began gathering information 30 years in the past. However he averaged 325 yards in driving distance, conversely the furthest by any US Open winner — and it’s honest to say this regardless of the shortage of yesteryear information — in historical past. DeChambeau is a revolutionary and like each renegade there are requires him to be constrained. Remark: Golf’s distance downside is ruining nice programs On Monday morning, the BBC web site referred to as for the governing our bodies lastly to intervene and arrest this one-dimensional “bomb and gouge” tradition that threatens to quash nuance — and to guard the basic programs on the identical time. As enthralling as DeChambeau’s ultimate spherical 67 was — the one under-par rating of the day and thus the bottom by a staggering three pictures — the concern is that an period of sledgehammer and wedge might get more and more uninteresting. Rory McIlroy was brave sufficient to pose the query, “Is that this good or dangerous for the sport?” earlier than emphasising how impressed he was. A lot was made when DeChambeau appeared post-lockdown carrying 40lbs extra of muscle however on the time McIlroy was unmoved. “I performed with him at Colonial the primary week again out and I form of mentioned, ‘Okay, wait till he will get to a correct golf course, he’ll must rein it again in’,” McIlroy mentioned. “However look what’s occurred. Yeah, he has full perception in what he is doing and I believe it is good. He’s taken benefit of the place the sport is on the minute.” Golf is at a crossroads and with DeChambeau’s bombs flying over their heads, the US Golf Affiliation and the R&A; should determine in the event that they eventually need to draw a line. A event ball can be the only repair, though it might imply the professionals enjoying with completely different tools to the hackers (in fact, they do anyway) and dropping that legendary connection. The USGA and R&A; revealed, in a report launched earlier this 12 months, a willingness to behave and the strain is on now greater than ever earlier than, no matter any potential authorized wars. Nonetheless, DeChambeau doesn’t sound frightened. “Will they rein it again? I am positive,” he mentioned. “I am positive one thing may occur. I do not know what it will likely be, however I simply know that size is at all times going to be a bonus. It is powerful to rein in athleticism. We’re at all times going to be making an attempt to get fitter, stronger, extra athletic. Tiger Woods impressed this complete technology to do that, and we will maintain going after it. I do not assume it is going to cease.” His caddie Tim Tucker is definite. “Bryson’s by no means going to cease,” he mentioned. “He’s going to maintain pushing it.” However at what expense? To not the 27-year-old, in fact, his $2.25m winnings have taken him above $20m profession earnings already and goodness is aware of the bonuses supplied up by Cobra, the membership producer who should really feel like Jimi Hendrix’s electrical guitar-maker after Woodstock. But to a sport petrified about falling participation ranges, determined to retain the viewers and sponsors introduced in by Woods, and anxious that it can not maintain increasing layouts due to price and environmental components, this seems a pivotal time.