Bryson out to muscle his way up Texas field
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU powered his way to a 65 on his PGA Tour return after adding 20 pounds of muscle during lockdown.
But the 26-year-old American complained Colonial, at 7204 yards, prevented him from really opening his shoulders.
Nutty professor DeChambeau, who has gone from medium to extra large in shirt size in three months, said: “I’ve upped about 20 pounds.
“It doesn’t mean I’m going to hit it farther but I’ve done a lot of speed training to attain these new ball speeds.
“When I was out here I was attaining ball speeds of 193, 195 on certain holes. Quite honestly I can’t use it out here. There are only a couple holes I can use it.”
While the world No.13 rose to five under on day one of the Charles Schwab Challenge, playing partner Justin Rose finished up two shots better off thanks to a bogey-free 63.
The 2018 winner, who chipped in at his first hole, said: “I have worked hard, I haven’t just sat around.
“I had the opportunity to get better. My season wasn’t going particularly well up until The Players so I tried to look on the positives of being away.
“I tried to think, ‘How can I make the most of this very strange period of history?’. It gave me a little bit of extra motivation to try to work hard and find a level I hadn’t had until this point this year.”
Fellow Englishman Ian Poulter carded six birdies and two bogeys in a 66 only to then reveal he had played just three practice rounds in three months.
The Ryder Cup legend said: “It’s no secret I don’t play golf, I practise.”
Phil Mickelson posted a 69 while the sole Scot in the field, Russell Knox, endured a horror 75.