Over his Masters meltdown, DeChambeau looks to continue strong play in majors at PGA Championship
Bryson DeChambeau walks off the green on the second hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Bryson DeChambeau watches on the second hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Bryson DeChambeau chips to the green on the second hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Bryson DeChambeau chips to the green on the second hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Bryson DeChambeau walks off the green on the second hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Bryson DeChambeau watches on the second hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Bryson DeChambeau chips to the green on the second hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Bryson DeChambeau left Augusta National last month frustrated over his final-round meltdown at the Masters and perplexed by his poor iron play.
The burly 6-foot-1, 220-pound DeChambeau has put that disappointing loss behind him and feels he's fixed the iron issue — or at least put a Band-Aid on it — heading into this week's PGA Championship. He enters Quail Hollow confident after following up a second-place finish at the LIV Tour's Mexico City event with a win two weeks ago in South Korea.
Advertisement
Now he looks to continue his recent run of success at major championships, where he has replaced Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm as LIV's best chance to win.
In 2024, DeChambeau finished tied for sixth at the Masters, then second at the PGA Championship at Valhalla before winning his second U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Despite shooting a final-round 75 at this year's Masters, he still finished tied for fifth, giving him six top-10 finishes in his past 10 majors.
'I feel like I've always had the capacity to play well in major championships and contend consistently,' DeChambeau said. 'A lot of things have to go right in majors for you to play well. Your whole game has to be on. So I felt like at Valhalla, especially after Augusta last year, that was the second time (in a row) that I played well in a major, and it kind of gave me that confidence that I could just keep moving forward with that at every major and keep hammering down on majors.'
The second-place finish at Valhalla last year proved huge for his confidence.
Advertisement
'It was more of an assurance of saying, hey, I can do this, and I can do this for a long time, God willing," DeChambeau said. 'Valhalla definitely gave me some confidence for the rest of the majors, last year and even this year.'
Now comes another test at Quail Hollow, a course where DeChambeau has limited experience compared to many PGA Tour players.
He's only played here once in the past six years, finishing tied for eighth at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship before leaving for the LIV Tour. His best finish at Wells Fargo was fourth in 2018. When Justin Thomas won the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, DeChambeau finished tied for 33rd.
The long course certainly plays to DeChambeau's strength off the tee.
Advertisement
'I feel like I'm moving in the right direction with giving myself a lot of multiple chances to win these major championships,' he said.
Despite his success this past month on the LIV Tour, which included shooting 30 on the back nine of the final round at South Korea to win the tournament, DeChambeau still plans to switch irons once they have been produced and delivered.
As of Tuesday, he had not received them.
'My irons weren't that great, but I played better in Mexico. My irons were really good in Korea. I feel like it's moving in the right direction,' DeChambeau said. 'Let's hopefully keep it more of the same. If I can do that, I'll give myself a good chance this week.'
Advertisement
And maybe, just maybe, have a chance to beat Rory McIlroy, who got the best of him in the final pairing at the Masters en route to winning the career Grand Slam.
Early on in the final round, it looked as if it might be DeChambeau's day at Augusta National. But after grabbing sole possession of the lead after two holes, DeChambeau faded fast and shot 75, leaving him four shots behind McIlroy and Justin Rose.
'Hopefully we can have another go at it again like the Masters,' DeChambeau said of McIlroy.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Levu's 3-run HR helps UCLA beat UC Irvine 8-5 to sweep Los Angeles Regional
Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mulivai Levu hit a three-run home run, Dean West and Payton Brennan added two RBIs apiece and UCLA jumped to a big lead and then held on to beat UC Irvine 8-5 on Sunday night and win the Los Angeles Regional. UCLA (45-16) clinched its first trip to the super regionals since 2019. UC Irvine (43-17) beat Arizona State 11-6 in a loser-out game earlier Sunday. The Anteaters made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time since they went to six straight tourneys from 2006-11. Roman Martin's RBI single off Finnegan Wall (0-1) in the first inning made it 1-0 and the Bruins led the rest of the way. Cashel Dugger hit a single in the second that drove in Brennan, who doubled to lead off the inning, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Roch Cholowsky to make it 3-0. Dugger and Phoenix Call drew back-to-back walks to lead off the fourth and West followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Dugger scored on another sacrifice fly by Cholowsky and, after Levu's homer, Brennan added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-0. James Castagnola and Alonso Reyes each had an RBI for the Anteaters in the fourth, Anthony Martinez hit a two-run double in the fifth and Reyes hit a lead-off home in the sixth to cap the scoring. Chris Grothues (3-1) came on in relief of starter Wylan Moss with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth. Grothues got Reyes to groundout, driving in Martinez, and struck out Blake Penso to limit the damage. Easton Hawk pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save of the season. ___ AP college sports: in this topic
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Australia's two-time World Cup champion Glenn Maxwell retires from one-day international cricket
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Two-time World Cup champion Glenn Maxwell is retiring from one-day international cricket in a bid to play a role in Australia's push for a Twenty20 world title next year. Cricket Australia confirmed Maxwell's decision Monday. The 36-year-old Maxwell played 149 ODIs for Australia in an enduring career that is memorable for his unbeaten double-century in the 2023 World Cup, his unconventional shot-making and his brilliant fielding. Maxwell said the physical toll of the ODI game, which can take up to eight hours and be played on short turnarounds, was beginning to impact on his fielding ability and he didn't think he'd make it to the 2027 World Cup. 'I always said I wasn't going to hand my position over if I felt like I was still good enough to play. I didn't want to just hold on for a couple of series and almost play for selfish reasons,' Maxwell said. The Australian selectors 'are moving in such a clear direction,' he said, so the retirement confirmation 'gives them the best look at what the lineup is leading into that next World Cup. I know how important that planning is.' Australia's selection chairman George Bailey said Maxwell was one of the one-day game's most dynamic players and played a key role in two ODI World Cup titles. The shorter T20 format is still a good vehicle for Maxwell's rare talents. 'His level of natural talent and skill is remarkable. His energy in the field, under-rated ability with the ball and longevity has been superb,' Bailey said. 'What else stands out is his passion for and commitment to playing for Australia. 'Fortunately, he still has much to offer Australia in the T20 format.' ___ AP cricket:
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
AP PHOTOS: Light and shadows add an extra dimension at the French Open tennis tournament
PARIS (AP) — The striking interplay of light and shadows on the red clay courts moves with the players at Roland Garros, while the dramatic light in the stadium adds depth and intensity to every swing of the racket during the French Open. This gallery, curated by AP photo editors, showcases some of the visual highlights so far from the French Open tennis tournament .
