Bryson DeChambeau: Wins API, the Most Interesting and One of the Best

Sometimes, the best player isn’t the most interesting player. Sometimes, the guy with all the quirks isn’t at the top of the game and isn’t one of the hardest workers. However, every once in a while you get a guy who finds a way to do all three at the same time. The PGA Tour has that in Bryson DeChambeau.

The 27-year-old captured his eighth PGA Tour title at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge holding off Lee Westwood with a 1-under par, 71 (tied for the lowest round of the day). On a day where only three players were in red numbers and the worst score was an 84, DeChambeau had just one bogey on his first hole of the day along with two birdies on the front nine before paring his final 12 holes.

Everyone except Westwood slowly drifted away. Jordan Spieth hung around before bogeying three of his last four holes. Canadian Corey Connors got within one after an eagle at 16 but bogeyed his last two holes to finish at 8-under. Westwood was solid as a rock but just couldn’t get a put to fall coming down the stretch and got some bad breaks like finding a divot in the middle of the fairway on 18.

DeChambeau seemed unphased by it all. Bay Hill was playing incredibly tough, but wasn’t able to break his game despite Bryson’s bold approach to Arnie’s place.

He had 88 yards left to the 589-yard par 5, sixth hole and stuck his hands in the air like a child hitting a buzzer beater in his driveway after doing so. He drained a 50-foot par putt on No. 11 and hit the longest drive of the day at 18.

He’s the most interesting man on the PGA Tour, and he’s also one of the best, which makes him so special for the game. He turns heads for so many reasons. Every word that comes out of his mouth has to be listened to, he hits drives further than anyone ever has and he’s built like he should be playing middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, not winning golf tournaments.

Before the tournament began, DeChambeau got some criticism. A lot of it was fair. Is he trying to drive the green on the sixth hole (yes, the par 5) because he really thinks that’s the best way to attack the hole, or is he just trying to get as many clicks and views as possible? Regardless of what is actually going on in Bryson’s head, it’s clear he’s capable of doing both.

DeChambeau is third on the PGA Tour in wins over the last five seasons with eight and five of those he came from behind on the final day. And it’s not just easy golf courses where he can hit the ball as far as possible and not really get penalized by thick rough and treacherous greens. Yes, he got his first win after the pause in the schedule at the Rocket Mortgage Classic. The Detroit Golf Club isn’t exactly scaring any professional.

But now Bryson has won at Winged Foot and Bay Hill. They said Bryson wasn’t going to be able to bomb it anywhere and be able to survive coming out of the rough at U.S. Open, he did that. Bay Hill’s rough was nothing to sneeze at this week and despite making headlines beforehand for reasons other than being a favorite to win the tournament, he found a way to win at Bay Hill.

DeChambeau is great for golf. Like it or not, he moves the needle in a way that not many people other than Tiger Woods have. Of course, Woods will always be the ultimate needle mover in the sport, but DeChambeau turns the heads of casual sports fans, not just golfers. That’s what Tiger did (and still does) and that’s why it’s so important for the game to embrace Bryson and not poke holes in what he’s doing.

Is it weird? Yes. Do you have to agree with the approach? No. But DeChambeau is going to re-enter the top 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings after his win and the most interesting man in golf must be respected as one of the best players in the world right now.