BRYSON FINDS OUT THE HARD WAY: OVERPOWERING AUGUSTA A BAD IDEA
Big-hitting US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau found, for the second time in five months, that Augusta offers plenty of defense against his “bomb and gouge” approach after finishing tied for 46th at five-over par in the recently concluded 85th Masters ruled by Japan’s cool and calculating Hideki Matsuyama on Sunday.
DeChambeau was tied for 34th in November, when the Masters was held on a very delayed basis because of the worldwide health crisis.
In fact, the 27-year-old American, who bulked up early in the pandemic to gain more hand speed and distance, was shown up by a couple of 63-year-olds in the opening round.
DeChambeau’s four-over 76 on Thursday was two strokes worse than German two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, whose first green jacket came in 1985, a year before Jack Nicklaus’ last.
But more embarrassingly, DeChambeau’s 76 was matched by the 5-foot-4 Ian Woosnam, who was playing his first round in 18 months to mark the 30th anniversary of his 1991 Masters triumph.
“Woosie,” who suffers from chronic arthritis, had back surgery 14 months ago. He then pulled his right groin early in the round and could hardly walk. “I was thinking of coming in after 11,” confessed Woosnam.
“I’m playing on one leg really. Plus I haven’t had a scorecard in my hand for 18 months, so I was pretty damn pleased, really.”
Unlike DeChambeau, whose claim that strong men smashing the ball up to 400 yards will take over the game seemed way off course.
Take a bow
Matsuyama had tears in his eyes after his final putt as he became the first Japanese man to win a major, but his caddie also made headlines.
While cameras were trained on Matsuyama, caddie Shota Hayafuji carefully replaced the pin, doffed his cap and bowed solemnly to the Augusta National course.
Images of the gracious gesture have gone viral and Matsuyama admitted after that his immediate thoughts upon winning had been for his caddie.
“When I saw my caddie, Shota, and hugged him, I was happy for him because this is his first victory on the bag,” Matsuyama told reporters through a translator.
“And then it started sinking in—the joy of being a Masters champion.”
A disappointing Masters for Bryson deChambeau.