Bryson DeChambeau completed the 2024 PGA Championship at 20-under-par, one stroke behind Xander Schauffele at Valhalla. Though he didn’t win, DeChambeau’s exuberant feelings and mannerisms gained the hearts of many, each on and off the golf course.
However, forward of this week’s LIV Golf occasion in Houston, DeChambeau mirrored on his newest main championship efficiency and made a shocking admission.
“It’s humorous as a result of I actually wasn’t hitting it my greatest going into that week,” DeChambeau admitted Wednesday.
“Tools was working nice. Simply wasn’t swinging it my greatest.”
Earlier than this 12 months, solely Jason Day had reached 20-under par within the historical past of the PGA Championship, when he took dwelling the Wanamaker Trophy in 2015.
DeChambeau matched that mark final month, but he feels he didn’t have his greatest stuff in Kentucky.
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“Once more, I wasn’t hitting it my greatest, and it was simply actually stunning to see myself be up on the prime of that leaderboard on Sunday,” DeChambeau added.
“I used to be actually shocked and shocked for myself a bit bit simply primarily based on the best way I used to be hitting it. Made every part. That was in the end why I bought as much as that degree and in the end had an opportunity to win.”
DeChambeau putted superbly at Valhalla, together with his birdie on the 72nd gap being the largest putt he made all week. That bought him to 20-under, placing him in a tie with Schauffele for a short second. However Schauffele made a birdie on the par-5 18th to defeat the 2020 U.S. Open champion by a stroke.
“I used to be pissed off, upset to not win,” DeChambeau mentioned.
“I needed two LIV gamers to win the PGA Championship in back-to-back years. That will have been cool. However Xander performed very well. Hats off to him, clearly, for doing what he did. Capturing 21-under par is fairly particular.”
In fact, Brooks Koepka gained the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in 2023, thus turning into the primary energetic LIV participant to win a serious. DeChambeau, had he gained in Louisville, would have been the second.
“I gave it my all. That’s the factor I’m most proud about is I simply threw all of it on the market. I gave it my all, did my greatest, and it’s actually enjoyable feeling quite a lot of that nervousness on the market, the nerves, the strain.” DeChambeau famous.
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“That’s what we play for. That’s what we play golf for. We need to expertise being in it, being in that second and giving ourselves an opportunity to win and that pleasure. I used to be happy with the best way I performed. I’m pleased with the sport that I’ve at present proper now, and I’m excited to proceed the nice play.”
DeChambeau additionally mentioned that he has found out some stuff because the PGA, and can absolutely arrive at Pinehurst No. 2 as one of many favorites for subsequent week’s U.S. Open.
The previous SMU Mustang has performed effectively within the majors this 12 months, tying for sixth at Augusta Nationwide earlier than his shut name in Kentucky.
He has additionally not missed a minimize at a U.S. Open since his win at Winged Foot, tying for twenty sixth, 56th, and twentieth over the previous three years.
Maybe one other main championship triumph is in retailer for DeChambeau, whose size can be on full show in North Carolina. If he can hold his drives straight and put like he did in Kentucky, be careful.
Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.