Here’s a question for you. With Bryson DeChambeau single-handedly changing the distance hitting boundaries of the game, what will make him obsolete?
DeChambeau believes he will become obsolete when an athlete standing seven-foot tall and being able to hit the ball at 145mph arrives in the pro game. DeChambeau was speaking Tuesday ahead of the reigning US Open champion making his fifth appearance in the Masters.
The 27-year old arrived at Augusta National having brilliantly muscled his way recently to an eighth PGA Tour success at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and it was a display of strength particularly at Bay Hill’s par-5 sixth hole that included one drive of 377-yards.
DeChambeau had arrived at Augusta National six-months ago for the 2020 rescheduled Masters predicted to bring the famed Georgia golfing gem to its knees but that did not happen with the American singling out a mystery illness due to “oxygen depletion” that left him dizzy on the course. It resulted in DeChambeau not being a factor before he eventually shared 34th place.
It was suggested to DeChambeau, the golfer nick-named ‘The Scientist’, that he is leading a revolution in golf; a revolution being seen already in the junior ranks where youngsters are no longer following the likes of Tiger or Rory, but Bryson.
Q – Last year there was a lot of talk that, culturally, you were leading a revolution in golf, especially among young fans who are really energised by the way you swing the golf club and all those things. If so, what’s the stage of that revolution now?
“I will say the Drive, Chip & Putt, what we saw with one of the kids imitating Kyle Berkshire, you’re already starting to see it with kids,” said DeChambeau.
“I’ve had numerous college kids DM me on Instagram and ask me, ‘How do I get stronger? How do I get faster?’ So you’re already starting to see it through — from collegiate level all the way to junior golf level.
“I think as time goes on, there’s not much more to gain from the technology side of golf club manufacturing, building. There are little things we can do, but where the massive gains will be is in athletes. Once you get somebody out here that’s a 7-foot-tall human being and they are able to swing a golf club at 145 miles an hour effortlessly, that’s when things get a little interesting. That’s when I’m going to become obsolete potentially even.
“Look, there’s still a chipping aspect and there’s still a putting aspect to it, but from a driving aspect, that’s where the gains will be had, is with these athletes coming out in the future. And it won’t stop. here’s just no way it will stop.
“I think it’s good for the game, too. I don’t think it’s a bad thing you’re bringing in and making it more inclusive to everybody when you’re doing that. The athletes are the ones that are going to in the end move the needle in any sport you play, and I think that’s pretty amazing.”
And in mentioning the ‘issues’ DeChambeau experienced last November, DeChambeau spoke of the tests he undertook in an effort to identify any on-going concerns.
“I’m a lot better, way better but there were some interesting things that went on and it took about four or five months to figure out what it was,” he said.
“We went through CT scans, X-rays, cardioid measurement. We had an ultrasound on my heart. We had a measurement of the blood vessels on my neck. We had — you name it, we did it, sinus, CT scan measurements, infection checks and everything. And we couldn’t find anything. There was literally nothing.
“Then one day I was talking with Neuropeak, and we went over a couple things with the brain. Obviously the brain was stressed still and wasn’t feeling that great. And they were like, well, let’s check out your oxygen levels. We never measured oxygen levels or anything like that, and there was something there. And immediately from after changing the way I was breathing, the way I was feeling that day from breathing, it took it out. It literally just went away.
“So very blessed to be able to have somebody that works hard in helping me figure out my body, and they were able to help me out in that regard. Ever since then, I’ve been okay. So knock-on-wood.”
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