Bryson DeChambeau's wild ride: LIV Golf star gets taste of speed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway
INDIANAPOLIS: Two-time US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau once hit a golf ball 221 mph with his driver.
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
Exactly as fast as some of the drivers will be going in the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
'It would be really cool,' DeChambeau mused Saturday, sitting on a perch that overlooks the front stretch at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 'to hit a ball down the straightaway, see if you could land it in a car going by you.'
Sounds like an interesting challenge.
Then again, DeChambeau is all about the challenges these days.
Sure, the majority of golf fans know of his highly publicized exodus to the LIV tour and his tremendous success in the majors, including the US Open, where he will be the defending champion at Oakmont in a few weeks.
But millions of mainstream sports fans, especially in younger demographics, know him just as well — perhaps even better — from his YouTube channel, which boasts nearly 2 million followers. There, DeChambeau takes on a myriad of challenges: trying to break 50 with partners ranging from fellow LIV star Sergio Garcia to President Donald Trump, attempting to set scoring records at random public courses that he's never even seen, even playing matches against some top junior players.
The overwhelming success of the channel, coupled with an infectious personality that has been on full display everywhere from the Masters to the PGA Championship last week, has allowed DeChambeau to transcend the sport of golf.
'I saw what Dude Perfect was doing, and then Mr. Beast, and they grew the channels like crazy, and encapsulated a massive audience, and I was like, 'Man, I'm a sports player. I'm a professional. Like, why can't I do that?'' DeChambeau said. 'So I took it upon myself — I found the right team, got started, and five years later, here we are.'
Right in the middle of Indianapolis Motor Speedway, often referred to as the 'Racing Capital of the World.'
DeChambeau was there in part to film a behind-the-scenes documentary for LIV, which has a tournament in August just north of Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills. But he also was taking in the scene on the eve of the biggest single-day sporting event in the world, one that is expected to draw a sellout crowd of 350,000 fans on Sunday.
DeChambeau spent time with Team Penske driver Scott McLaughlin. He launched tee shots with Andretti Global driver Kyle Kirkwood off the Turn 2 terrace onto Brickyard Crossing, the golf course with four holes inside the track. And he climbed into a fire suit for a two-seater ride around the 2.5-mile oval at speeds approaching 180 mph.
'Going around the track was actually insane,' DeChambeau said. 'I went off and I mean, it was the craziest. Now I understand racing. Yeah, I get it, like that feeling — a rush. It's unlike anything you can experience elsewhere. It's a rollercoaster, but way faster and lower to the ground, and I hated rollercoasters growing up. The G-forces are just incredible.'
Others taking part in his session Saturday included WWE star Titus O'Neil, members of the rock band Creed, Grammy nominee Omar Apollo, Mary and Romain Bonnet from 'Selling Sunset' and 'Shadowhunters' actress Katherine McNamara.
These are the kinds of things DeChambeau might not have done early in his career. But his YouTube channel, and his success in all avenues of social media, has made him more comfortable in situations that might have pushed his boundaries.
'I've kind of gotten out of my box more,' he said. 'This is another one where I was like, 'You just got to go.' I wasn't afraid at all. It was just, 'What am I going to feel like?' The unknown. And I'm like, 'I'm not in control of this at all.'
'And then you get to that first corner and you're like, 'My goodness, am I in for a treat.' And feeling that the whole way around, and looking up through the helmet. I can't imagine what it's like on race day with 32 others out there.'
DeChambeau's schedule will keep him from sticking around to see it in person. But he plans to be watching on TV on Sunday.
'Kirkwood, I mean, he's awesome. I really like him,' DeChambeau said. 'And he's a decent golfer, too, as well.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
19 hours ago
- Arab News
Thunders vs. Pacers 2025 NBA Finals highlight NBA's competitive parity
DUBAI: As the 2025 NBA Finals tip off in Oklahoma City this week, the league is celebrating this year's matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers as a landmark moment. These are finals defined by competitive parity, the rise of international stars, and a clear message: In today's NBA, success is no longer dictated by market size. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport During a pre-finals international media call, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said the Thunder-Pacers series reflects the league's evolving landscape. 'This season, we will crown the seventh different NBA champion in seven years, a first in league history. This speaks to the parity in today's NBA, where more teams have a chance to win and more players are stepping up on the global stage,' Tatum said. A new era of champions Neither Oklahoma City nor Indiana has ever won an NBA title, with the Pacers' only championships coming in the ABA. But both teams have reached the top through smart drafting, player development, and long-term vision, not through market size or heavy spending. 'It's still early, but I'm encouraged by what we're seeing in terms of parity,' Tatum said. 'Teams like OKC and Indiana prove that strong management, regardless of market size, can build championship contenders. The result is increased global interest and competitive balance.' The Thunder finished with a league-best 68 wins behind Canadian-born MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, advanced through the East with dynamic offense and relentless energy. Both squads are young, deep, and built with a clear identity. Small markets, global reach While Oklahoma City and Indiana are traditionally considered small markets, their impact in 2025 tells a different story. Through global broadcasting and social media, the finals and their stars are more accessible than ever. 'Market size doesn't have the same weight it once did. Thanks to social media, international distribution, and player-driven content, stars from any team can become global icons,' the NBA deputy commissioner added. This postseason supports that claim. The NBA recorded its most-viewed opening playoff weekend in 25 years, and the Eastern Conference Finals between Indiana and New York had the highest viewership in seven years. Across digital platforms, engagement is at an all-time high. 'The Thunder and Pacers have proven that you don't need to be from New York or Los Angeles to capture global attention. If your team plays the right way and your players connect with fans, the world will watch,' Tatum continued. Global stars, global stage The finals spotlight two international standouts: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Canada and Pascal Siakam from Cameroon. Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named both the 2025 NBA regular season MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP, and Siakam, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, have emerged as global stars on the league's biggest stage. Both are products of the NBA's global development programs, including Basketball Without Borders. Siakam participated in the Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in 2012, which played a significant role in his basketball development. Gilgeous-Alexander attended the Basketball Without Borders Global camp in 2016, showcasing his talent on an international stage. 'This is truly a breakout moment for Shai,' Tatum said. 'And Pascal's story, from attending a camp in Africa to becoming an NBA champion and now returning to the finals, is a powerful example of what international investment can achieve.' Built, not bought This year's finals also highlight the impact of the league's updated Collective Bargaining Agreement. Neither team is a luxury-tax payer, and both rosters were built through the draft, player development, and smart acquisitions. Tatum highlighted that there are multiple paths to building a championship contender, adding that what we are seeing now is a validation of the system. Drafting Chet Holmgren, trading for Alex Caruso, and signing Isaiah Hartenstein are all smart, sustainable moves. Finals for the future With Gilgeous-Alexander, Haliburton, Siakam, and Holmgren at the forefront, the 2025 NBA finals represent more than a battle for the title. It marks a generational shift in the league. 'These players aren't anointed. They earn their place. And this is where they begin to cement their status as the future faces of the NBA,' Tatum concluded. As two passionate fan bases chase their first NBA title and a global audience tunes in, the Thunder-Pacers Finals stand as a symbol of the league's evolution, driven by competitive parity and the rise of international stars who are boosting viewership around the world. Given that Oklahoma City holds home court advantage, Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off on Thursday, June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET (Friday, June 6 at 4:30 a.m. GST), live from Oklahoma City.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
‘Rested' Pacquiao Relishing Boxing Comeback at 46
Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about his decision to return to boxing at the age of 46 as he prepares for next month's world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios. The charismatic Filipino boxing icon stunned the sports world last month after announcing he would take on World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, four years after his last fight ended in a disappointing defeat. Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, told reporters on Tuesday that the glamour of championship boxing had prompted his return. "I'm returning because I miss my boxing," Pacquiao said at a press conference in Los Angeles. "Especially these situations -- being interviewed, press conference, training camp, everything like that. "I missed that. But it has been good for me -- I've rested my body for four years. And now I come back." Pacquiao said that he had been left devastated following his decision to retire in the wake of his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021. "I always thought, even when I hung up my gloves, 'I can still fight, I can still feel my body, I can still work hard,'" Pacquiao said. "That moment when I announced hanging up my gloves four years ago -- I was so sad. I was crying, I cannot stop the tears coming out my eyes." Pacquiao, though, revealed that working out at his home in the Philippines persuaded him he still had the fitness and strength to fight. "I realized when I'm playing basketball, training at the gym my house -- I have complete sport facilities in my house -- that I still have that passion. I still have that speed and power," he said. - 'Low-risk' comeback - Some in boxing have expressed concerns about whether Pacquiao's comeback against Barrios, who is 16 years his junior, represents a risk to the Filipino's safety. Addressing those concerns, Pacquiao noted that his family and loved ones were firmly behind his comeback. "I'm thankful for them for their concern," Pacquiao told AFP. "But the people who really concern me, is my family. My family saw how I move, saw how I train, saw my body condition. They support me because they can see the old Pacquiao style." Pacquiao, who has reunited with veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month's fight, is able to challenge immediately for a title due to a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a title fight when coming out of retirement. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman told AFP on Tuesday that Pacquiao had been cleared to return to the ring by the Nevada Athletic Commission after undergoing medical exams, describing the fighter's comeback as "low risk". "Manny Pacquiao is at no higher risk than any fighter going into the ring," Sulaiman said. "Manny has rested his body for four years. He's not a drinker. He's not a drug user. He's a family man that has taken care of himself. So of the different aspects of dangers, he's at the lowest risk." Pacquiao's opponent, Barrios, said he would set aside the Filipino's status as one of the most beloved fighters of his era. "There's nothing but good things to say about him outside the ring," Barrios said of Pacquiao. "He's a hard guy to dislike. But at the end of the day, you know it's kill or be killed. "And I know if at any point he has me hurt, you know he's going to get me out of there. So I just have to go in there and make sure that my hand is raised at the end of the fight."
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Where's Marty McFly's Guitar? Search Is on for ‘Back to the Future' Prop 4 Decades Later
Marty McFly grabbed a guitar in 'Back to the Future' and rocked out with the band at a 1950s high school dance, helping him narrowly avoid blinking out of existence before time-traveling back to the 1980s. The guitar, in real life, wasn't as lucky. Filmmakers went looking for the instrument while making the movie's 1989 sequel, but even now it's nowhere to be found. Four decades after the blockbuster film debuted, the guitar's creator has launched a search for the iconic Cherry Red Gibson ES-345. Gibson, which is based in Nashville, is asking the public for help tracking it down as the movie turns 40 and as the company produces a new documentary about the search and the film, 'Lost to the Future.' In a video by Gibson, with the movie's theme song playing in the background, 'Back to the Future' stars such as Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Harry Waters Jr. make a cinematic plea. There's also a surprise appearance by Huey Lewis, whose band Huey Lewis and the News performed the soundtrack's headliner song, 'The Power of Love.' Lloyd, in the cadence of Doc Brown, says in the video that the guitar has been 'lost to the future.' 'It's somewhere lost in the space-time continuum,' says Fox, who played McFly. 'Or it's in some Teamster's garage.' In the film, McFly steps in for an injured band member at the 1955 school dance with the theme 'Enchantment under the Sea,' playing the guitar as students slow dance to 'Earth Angel.' He then leads Marvin Barry and the Starlighters in a rendition of 'Johnny B. Goode,' calling it an oldie where he comes from even though the 1958 song doesn't exist yet for his audience. Fox said he wanted McFly to riff through his favorite guitarists' signature styles — Jimi Hendrix behind the head, Pete Townshend's windmill and the Eddie Van Halen hammer. After digging and dancing to 'Johnny B. Goode,' the students at the dance fall into an awkward silence as McFly's riffs turn increasingly wild. 'I guess you guys aren't ready for that yet,' McFly says. 'But your kids are gonna love it.'
