BRAWN OF A NEW ERA FOR BRYSON
But muscle man keeps his driver in bag as Tour suffers a Covid setback
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU toned down the muscle-man act to tee up another weekend charge.
But the PGA Tour’s return suffered a setback last night as it emerged pro Nick Watney had withdrawn after testing positive for Covid-19 in South Carolina.
Watney, who travelled privately to Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage event, is the first on the circuit to do so.
Beefed-up DeChambeau turned heads on the sport’s return in Texas last week with his hefty gains off the tee after an intense lockdown workout regime.
The Californian, 26, revealed after yesterday’s second round that he is continuing to combine tournament golf with a daily weights frenzy fuelled by an avalanche of carbohydrates.
But he kept his new-found power – and ego – in check and did not hit a single driver during a seven-under 64 at Harbour Town that sent him to 11 under.
He said: “I didn’t let the kraken out – I can’t. It’s just this golf course. It’s so difficult to try to fit into these tight areas.
“The distance gain is a huge change that has allowed me to go and attack flags a lot more, be more aggressive.
“It’s just a complete quantum shift for me that allows me to go at things that I usually am not able to go at.
“I’m extremely excited to showcase what I’m able to do this week with this added length but I was a little more comfortable out there hitting threewood so I was fine with that.
“I couldn’t get anything going in the front nine but then I caught fire and was able to make some putts.”
DeChambeau, tied third at last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, birdied seven of his last nine holes to sit one shot off playing partner Webb Simpson.
Simpson said: “The most impressive thing is he has been able to take this body that he’s never played with before and still play just as good if not better. That’s really impressive.”
World No.9 Simpson mixed nine birdies with three bogeys for a 65 that left him on 12 under. He made 186 feet worth of putts, including a whopping 38-foot birdie at the par-four 18th.
He added: “I set out on a journey three years ago to get stronger, hit it further – but do it a lot slower than Bryson. He has made it look easy and seamless.”
On a day of low scoring, Justin Rose trod water with a four-under-par 67.
The Englishman finished tied third in Fort Worth last week but, sitting on five under, has plenty of work to do.
Russell Knox, the sole Scot in the field, posted a bogey-free 67 after two double bogeys the day before to reach two under.
However, thoughts quickly turned from the course to concern for Watney as the Tour confirmed his positive test.
The American, 39, posted a 74 on Thursday but did not tee up yesterday, withdrawing prior to the second round.
A Tour statement said: “On Friday, prior to arriving at the tournament, he indicated he had symptoms consistent with the illness and after consulting with a physician was administered a test and found to be positive.
“Nick will have the Tour’s full support throughout his self-isolation and recovery period under CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines.
“For the health and wellbeing of all associated with the tournament and those within the community, the Tour has begun implementing its response plan in consultation with medical experts, including working with those who may have had close contact with Nick.
“Watney, who travelled privately to Hilton Head Island for the tournament and was not on the PGA Tour-provided charter flight, tested negative upon arrival.
“He is the first PGA Tour member to test positive for coronavirus. A total of 369 individuals (players, caddies, essential personnel) underwent onsite testing prior to the start of the tournament, with zero positive results.”
It came as the European Tour’s 2020 seniors season was last night cancelled because of coronavirus fears.