Dechambeau is ‘ very happy’ with work so far in US Open
American gets his wedges dialled in ‘ Grinder’ Cabrera- Bello in halfway hunt Syme bemoans ‘ really poor putting’
It isn’t always a good thing seeing Bryson Dechambeau on a practice range at a major as darkness is descending. It was painful viewing, after all, to see his meltdown at Carnoustie two years ago after a tough day at the office in the Open Championship.
Apparently, the eccentric American was the last player left on the range at Winged Foot after the opening round of the 120th US Open on Thursday, but the men in white coats were not lurking in the wings on this occasion. Dechambeau was happy enough with his opening 69 in the season’s second major. It left him handily- placed at the Mamaroneck venue. He’s a perfectionist, though, and something needed attention before his head hit the pillow.
“My wedges yesterday weren’t that good,” he said after adding a second- round 68 to set a stiff clubhouse target of three- under as Winged Foot bit back in breezy conditions after 21 players broke par on day one compared to just one on the event’s last visit in 2006. “I was flying them too far and I wanted to know what the problem was and we figured out what it was. We just didn’t calibrate correctly, so I was flying my wedges 10 yards long. We didn’t practice them as well as I should have leading up to this tournament, but we made that adjustment, and it worked out beautifully for me today.”
After using the Covid -19 lock down to turn himself into golf ’s “Incredible Bulk”, the 27- year- old has suddenly shown he has the game to contend in majors. His tie for fourth in last month’s US PGA Championship in San Francisco was easily his best effort so far in the game’s showpiece events and this week’s work has been hugely impressive so far. “I felt like a lot of things were working well for me,” said Dechambeau of a second- day effort that had already delivered five birdies before hitting his approach from 178 yards at the ninth – his last – to just over six feet and confidently rolling in the putt.
“I was driving it well. My iron play was impeccable. When I was in the fairway, I was able to attack and take advantage, and finished really well today. I hit a great drive on 6, great drive on 8, great shot on 7, and a great drive on 9 that just set me up to be able to attack that flag today, and that was a fun way to finish off at a US Open so far. I feel great. Confidence is at an all- time high right now, I’m putting it like I know I can. So very happy.”
On a day when overnight leader Justin Thomas and two other fast starters, Rory Mcilroy and Patrick Reed, were in some of the later groups, Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello backed up his opening 68
with a 70 to sit a shot behind Dechambeau. Little has been seen of Cabrera Bello since landing the biggest win of his career i n the 2017 Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, but this has been more like it from the 36- year- old. “It’s a tournament I do like. I tend to be a grinder, as well. I never give up. I keep fighting,” he said of picking up three shots in his last four holes. “I have played some great rounds in the US Open, at Pebble Beach, at Shinnecock ( Hills) as well. I’ve been not quite able to finish as high up as I would have liked to, but it is different.
“It’s a major that tests your patience beyond limits and your mental strength as well, to accept the fact that you’re going to hit some great shots and going to end up making bogeys, and you just have to accept that sometimes t wo or three bogeys in a row is not as bad as it looks. I’m managing my game well this week. I played really good golf yesterday. I putted beautifully today, so I’m very happy with my performance so far.”
The tougher conditions were highlighted by Belgian Thomas Pieters after he briefly moved into the lead with two early birdies before limping home in 41 for a 74 and a levelpar total. “I think I only hit one fairway on the back nine and it’s definitely twice as tough as yesterday with the wind,” said the 2016 Ryder Cup player. “I got myself out of position on every hole on the back nine, but I’m not unhappy.”
That view will be echoed, no doubt, by Xander Schauffele after he also reached the halfway stage on level- par, as did Matthew Wolff, with world No 2 Jon Rahm, 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and two-time Masters winnerBubba Watson all handily-placed, too, onone-over. Watson joined Dechambeau in posting the only sub- par rounds among the morning starters with his 69.
Connor Syme, who faced an early morning return to complete his opening round after being in the one group left out on the course when play was halted due to darkness on Thursday night, carded two 75s on his debut in the event. “I just didn’t drive it anywhere near well enough ye st erday, and then today I actually played well, but I putted really, really poor for two days,” said the young Fifer.
TICKETY BOO
“I feel great. I was driving it well. My iron play was impeccable. Confidence is at an alltime high right now. I’m putting it like I know I can. So very happy”
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU