Dechambeau ready to bring his ‘A’ game to challenge at Sawgrass
Bryson Dechambeau has warned his rivals that he only had his “C game” when prevailing at Bay Hill on Sunday and expects his form to be sharper for this week’s Players Championship at Sawgrass.
Lee Westwood, for one, might be surprised at Dechambeau’s claim. The veteran Englishman went toeto-toe with the 27-year-old American at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, in a final round that, in tough conditions, appeared to be high class. Yet Dechambeau was not entirely happy with his swing at Bay Hill, despite lifting the £1.2million first prize and rising back into the world’s top six.
“I just didn’t feel like I had it all,” Dechambeau, the reigning US Open champion, said. “I was working hard trying to figure out my swing late Saturday night again and even Sunday. You could see, the first tee,
I didn’t hit one very well, but I was still able to win a golf tournament.
“If anything, my driving didn’t feel great. My putting was obviously an ‘A’, but my iron play was not where I wanted it to be, and my expectation levels are really high.
“By no means am I trying to cause anything [controversial] by this, other than saying that I just was not at my best.”
Certainly Dechambeau’s challenge for the PGA Tour’s flagship event – “the fifth major” – will not be affected by any hangover. He revealed that his celebrations on Sunday night amounted to “some chocolate milk, some Arnold Palmer gummies… and a game of pinball”.
Dechambeau never has been one to obey tradition and at the Stadium Course, the player who is trying to create a one-man revolution with his 200mph swing speed and his uniquely scientific approach to what once was regarded as a game of “feel”, is planning to take a novel route. Namely, down the famous 18th. Instead of playing the imposing par four as it was designed, with the dogleg left around the pond. Dechambeau said that going left, down the ninth hole, might better open up the green for his approach.
“I’ll probably give it a try [going down the ninth hole],” Dechambeau said. “If there are stands, there’s no reason to go for it, when I could just drive it 100 yards from the green if I get a good wind.
“Taking the water out of play might make it an easier second shot. But I think it’s a cool aspect of the game [taking unconventional paths to holes] that not many people have the opportunity to do. It’s pretty fun for me to try.”
Meanwhile, Danny Willett, the 2016 Masters champion, has been forced to withdraw from the Players Championship after testing positive for Covid-19.
The 33-year-old, who finished 31st at Bay Hill, will be replaced in the field by Kramer Hickok.