LOS ANGELES – Another major men’s championship, another player from LIV Golf near the top of leaderboard.
Brooks Koepka led the charge at the Masters for the new circuit, which was headed by Greg Norman with financial backing from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Koepka won the PGA Championship and Bryson deChambeau was just a few strokes behind. DeChambeau will be back at the 2023 U.S. Open, which takes place this week at Los Angeles Country Club.
The winner of the 2020 U.S. Open shot a 3-under 67 during the first round at the exclusive Beverly Hills club. He finished T-3, behind Rickie fowler and Xanderschauffele who both made major championship history by shooting 8-under 62.
DeChambeau said that the fair conditions on Thursday morning were “pretty much as I expected.” The greens were receptive which was great. They’re going get much firmer. Tomorrow afternoon will be very firm. It’s going to get firm this afternoon, and there is a strong wind blowing, so it won’t be easy. Hope the wind doesn’t blow tomorrow. This will be a big advantage in the first wave.”
U.S. Open: Leaderboards, tee-times, hole-byhole
You had to do it today. “If you don’t do it, you will be in the dark,” he said. “Lucky to shoot a high score today.”
A #USOpen save by @b_dechambeau. pic.twitter.com/XkztYn6XcZ
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2023
The former bomber has not lost weight since he brought Winged Foot down in 2020. DeChambeau spent considerable time Wednesday on the driving range, pounding drivers and trying to recreate a swing feeling he once had.
“I’ve hit more golf balls than ever before. DeChambeau said, “I’m still trying to figure out how I made 2018 so repeatable. I’m getting close.” “It’s going to take a bit more time and effort, as well as a bit more thought,” said DeChambeau. It’s time to create something that will allow me to remain super stable during impact, like I did.
DeChambeau started his round from the back and was at par for his first nine holes. He then exploded on his second nine. He added two birdies to a bad bogey at the par-4 2nd hole, and two more on nos. The 6th and 10th holes are both drivable, par 4, and a two-shot par 5.
DeChambeau spoke of the risk/reward of going for the green at No. 6. “I personally think that being in the rough right off the tee, and chipping up there, hopefully close on to the green, and giving yourself a twenty-footer for a birdie is the best you can do each day. I’ve been going all in, and hopefully it will pay off.”
DeChambeau considers himself to be a “big-brain” thinker and has noted that every course is unique in the strategy it offers. He could exploit Winged Foot by using his distance. This is still an advantage at LACC but it requires more.
You’ve got be a good putter to play this golf course. You need to be able to play your irons well into the greens. You have to be disciplined. “It teases you into wanting to take certain shots at certain places and you have to be an excellent driver of the golf ball,” said he. “Everyone thinks that the fairways are large. No, no, no. It will roll out of the fairway if you push or pull it. This is how steep and firm they are. “You can call them wide fairways, but in reality they are only 25 yards wide at most.
DeChambeau had a difficult start to the year, missing the cut at the Masters and in LIV events. He finished T-23, T44, T-16 T-26, and T-19, in the five first 48-player tournaments. In the last two month, he has finished T-5 at Tulsa, T-9 in Washington, D.C., and T-4 last month at the PGA Championship.
“If I can play like I did at the PGA I will be in contention (this week).”
By: Adam Woodard
Title: Bryson DeChambeau continues trend of LIV Golf players contending at majors at 2023 U.S. Open
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/06/15/liv-golf-bryson-dechambeau-2023-us-open/
Published Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2023 22:02:24 +0000
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