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Bryson DeChambeau: Simply rust or something more?

By Sean McCann

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 25: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States plays his shot from the sixth tee during the third day of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 25, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 25: Bryson DeChambeau of the United States plays his shot from the sixth tee during the third day of the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club on March 25, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chuck Burton/Getty Images) /
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The WGC-Dell Match Play Championship saw the return of arguably one of the most entertaining players on Tour: Bryson DeChambeau. Known for electrifying fans with his wicked-long drives and unique personality, no matter if you like him or not, the PGA Tour is more exciting when he is healthy and playing.

After missing the last 2 months with a lingering hand injury, the World No. 13 finally felt confident enough to return. The anticipation was however met with disappointment, as the week did not go as planned for the American.

Bryson DeChambeau was grouped with red-hot American Talor Gooch, along with veterans Lee Westwood and Richard Bland. At first glance, it seemed that he would be the clear favorite to win his group. well, we were wrong on that.

The week at the WGC-Dell Match Play did not go as expected for Bryson DeChambeau

In Round 1 at the WGC-Dell Match Play DeChambeau faced off against Bland, the 48-year-old Englishmen. It was a rollercoaster start to the week for Bryson, finishing the round with 4 birdies to go along with 5 bogeys. All in all, the match finished halved, a shocking start for both Bryson DeChambeau and Bland, and it soon became evident that the group is up for grabs.

Following the first-round tie at the 2022 WGC-Dell Match Play, consecutive losses to Westwood and Gooch abruptly ended DeChambeau’s week. Round 2 was more of the same after finishing with 6 birdies and 5 bogeys, including one on the 18th hole that cost him the round and handed Westwood the victory, 1 UP. Oh, and guess what? Bryson DeChambeau stayed on the same ride all week, as 5 birdies and 4 bogeys in Round 3 opened the door for Gooch to win 2 UP. Overall, 15 birdies and 14 bogeys in 3 rounds is not the consistent performance that will boost him back up the FedEx Standings, as he currently sits in 209th overall, some distance from his 3rd place finish in 2018 which was a career-best.

This season has been a struggle overall for Bryson DeChambeau, as he’s only played in three tournaments this season, missing the cut in his most recent start at the Farmers Insurance Open this past January. While he still ranks 3rd in Driving Distance (318.5 yards), DeChambeau has yet to figure out the accuracy of the driver, ranking 244th on Tour in that category. The most telling statistic that needs to be addressed if he wants to change the narrative on the season is his Scoring Average, where he ranks 240th on Tour (73.13)

Next. Decade by decade, the best of the Masters. dark

It remains to be seen if his lingering injury is still bothering him, or maybe he simply needed this weekend to shake off the rust and have a little fun. Either way, if we know anything from the 28-year-old, he’ll be back in a big way. Maybe just in time to get fitted for a green jacket? As he tells reporters: “I won’t be able to go at it until probably Augusta time.”

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