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WGC-Match Play: Bryson DeChambeau Sees Week Come to End

By Tim Letcher

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 26: Tommy Fleetwood of England shakes hands with Bryson DeChambeau of the United States after winning their match during the third round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 26, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 26: Tommy Fleetwood of England shakes hands with Bryson DeChambeau of the United States after winning their match during the third round of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 26, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images) /
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Bryson DeChambeau was seen as someone who could make a run at the title at this week’s WGC-Match Play event in Austin. Instead, DeChambeau saw his week come to an end on Friday.

The long-hitting DeChambeau opened play on Wednesday by losing to Antoine Rozner, who entered the week as the 58th-seed. Rozner took the lead for good on the fourth hole and went on to a 2-up victory in one of the biggest surprises of the first day.

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DeChambeau had a better day on Thursday. He fell behind Si Woo Kim on the back nine, but rallied to win three of the last four holes and claim a 2&1 win.

Heading to Friday’s final match in the group portion of the event, DeChambeau knew he needed to win against Tommy Fleetwood to have any chance of advancing to the 16-player bracket.

The bad news for DeChambeau was that Fleetwood was in the exact same situation. He knew he needed to win to survive the group stage and advance.

Fleetwood took the first hole when DeChambeau hit his drive way right, pitched into the fairway but was unable to get up-and-down. It was a bogey five for DeChambeau while Fleetwood carded a par and claimed a 1-up lead.

The two players would each par the next three holes, halving each, and Fleetwood maintained his 1-up lead. But on the fifth, Fleetwood hit a solid approach shot at the par four, then made a 12-footer for birdie to grab a 2-up lead.

Fleetwood would continue to grow his lead from there.

Fleetwood was able to extend his lead on the par-5 sixth hole. It looked like DeChambeau had the advantage after hitting the green in two while Fleetwood was in the greenside bunker. However, Fleetwood played an excellent bunker shot while DeChambeau hit less than his best putt. After Fleetwood tapped in for par, DeChambeau missed his birdie attempt and fell 3-down.

On the par-3 seventh hole, DeChambeau flew the green with his tee shot while Fleetwood hit the green, about 10 feet from the cup. DeChambeau chipped onto the green in two, then missed his putt for par. He conceded the hole to Fleetwood, who went 4-up.

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DeChambeau would win the eighth hole to cut into the lead. And as the players made the turn, DeChambeau would win the 11th, the 14th and the 15th holes to get within 1-down. However, Fleetwood would manage to halve the last three holes to claim a 1-up victory.

For DeChambeau, it was the end of a disappointing week in what seemed like a manageable bracket.

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