DECHAMBEAU TIED FOR LEAD, ENTERS WEEKEND WITH GREEN JACKET HOPES
AUGUSTA, Ga. – Bryson DeChambeau took his caddie’s advice Friday afternoon at the par-4 seventh. Consider it a sign of growth in his education on how to play Augusta National – and an important step forward in his bid this week to win his first Masters.
After a mammoth 352-yard drive left him just 103 yards to the pin, DeChambeau normally would go flag-hunting. But that was a risky play Friday given the right-side hole location and three of the bunkers in triangulation guarding the pin.
So, caddie Greg Bodine suggested another approach.
Hit it left, leave yourself 20 feet, knock it in.
And that’s exactly what DeChambeau did. After he made the birdie putt, Bodine looked at him proudly.
“He’s like, ‘Dude, look at you, hitting away from a flag,’ which is not normal for me,” DeChambeau said.
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Augusta National has been a mystery to DeChambeau since he turned pro, his best result a T29 in 2019 when he opened with a 66 to share the first-round lead. The Crushers GC captain missed the cut the last two years and shot 80 in the second round two years ago.
But now he shares the lead through 36 holes with Scottie Scheffler and Max Homa, the latter his playing partner in the final group for Saturday’s third round. It’s a different DeChambeau that enters this weekend. He’s more composed, more patient, more open to taking what the course gives him as opposed to bullying his way via brute force – although he's certainly still capable of doing that, as evidenced by his 61-58 weekend last year at LIV Golf Greenbrier that was the launching spot to his current level of play.
Friday was a challenging day due to windy conditions, and DeChambeau is admittedly not a great wind player. Having shot a 7-under 65 the previous day to take the 18-hole lead, he realized quickly that it was a day to hold on, instead of running away, with the lead.
He limited the hero shots but also limited the damages.
Back-to-back birdies to finish Amen Corner at 12 and 13 moved him to 8 under – the only player to reach that total thus far this week. The 13th was a bit adventurous, as his tee shot found the pines. After removing a 30-pound signage pole, he opted to hit his second shot around the corner down the 14th fairway to give him an up-and-down opportunity from 140 yards.
“The patrons were nice enough to move over to the side to make sure it was wide enough so if I hit one errant, nobody would get hit by the ball,” DeChambeau said.
He gave the stroke back with a bogey at the 14th, and then missed two makeable putts on the final two holes – one for birdie at the 17th after a massive 372-yard drive, one for par at the 18th when he three-putted from 65 feet– to finish with a 1-over 73.
And yet he considered it a good day, given the conditions.
“Never experienced anything like this before at Augusta National,” he said. “I played some great golf today. Very satisfied. …
“Look, I felt like could I have finished birdie, par and been at 8-under. Didn't happen. That's in the past.
“Playing great golf. Golf swing is in an awesome place. Putting is in a great place. Chipping is in a great place. Just have to be smart around this place and give myself an opportunity come the back nine on Sunday.”
The path to get here has been a process. Overcoming injuries. Figuring out his optimal equipment (which includes his new 3D-printed irons). Finding a comfort and confidence level with both his body and mind.
Asked about his level of excitement entering the weekend, DeChambeau replied:
“I’m very excited. I get an opportunity to show my skill set, and hopefully it's good enough to do something special this weekend. I feel like the game is in a great spot. Mindset is in a solid place. Caddie is keeping me in check. We're joking out there, having fun in some tough conditions.
“So, I feel like everything is lining up pretty well.”
If everything continues to line up for 36 more holes, DeChambeau may very well find himself in Butler Cabin on Sunday afternoon, slipping on a green jacket that for the last few years has seemed so elusive.
(DeChambeau photo courtesy of Chloe Knott/Masters)