As Bryson DeChambeau finalises his preparation for the major he wants to win the most, the powerful American concedes he always returns to Augusta National in chagrin.
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Regrets? Despite a bank balance as broad as his golf swing along with a couple of major titles, the LIV Golf star laments an outlandish statement that caused a stir back in 2020.
The 31-year-old, who made the most of Rory McIlroy’s misfortune to clinch last year’s US Open, infamously suggested that the true par for Augusta for him should be 67, not 72.
And the bold prediction backfired bigtime on DeChambeau, who finished in a tie for 34th that year and followed that with a 46th placed finish and then two missed cuts in the Masters.
Little wonder DeChambeau, who finally demonstrated he is capable of contending at Augusta when finishing sixth last year, is more bashful than brash ahead of the 2025 edition.
Ahead of the first major of the year, the dual-major champion said he has felt humbled by the Augusta course ever since making the “67” statement he now understands was better left unsaid.
“I’ve always since said I don’t regret saying that 67 thing, because I learnt from that experience and it made me a better person,” he told The Telegraph in London in an extended interview.
“But do I wish I hadn’t said it? I do. Really, I do. Because it impacted some people negatively and I don’t want that, no matter how much of a benefit it might have been to me maturing.
“I can see that it was disrespectful to some and I’m sorry for that. Boy, it was a humbling experience. But for me it was simply from a statistical viewpoint and yardages and looking at, if I’m playing well, I could or should be hitting the greens in two or whatever.
“It was motivation for myself and not intended as anything otherwise. I’ve never disrespected Augusta internally. It’s the one I want to win.
“I stand there on the range and hit shots into the sun as it’s going down and I think to myself, ‘this is heaven, imagine being a part of this history’. And I think I will one day, because I have to think that. If I do, and when I do, it will be the proudest moment of my career.”
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The powerhouse known as “The Scientist” produced his best performance for the season to date when finishing fifth in the LIV Golf event in Miami claimed by Aussie Marc Leishman last week.
He has one other top 10 finish on the LIV Tour in the five events to date and is 33-under for the year in the 15 rounds he has played from the Middle East to Adelaide, through Asia and back to the United States.
But he saved his best golf last year for the three majors in America, finishing runner-up in the US PGA Championships along with his best finish in a Masters, and is confident that he has the goods to contend at Augusta this year.
A prominent Australian bookmaker lists DeChambeau on the fifth line of betting for the Masters at $19 behind defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa for the tournament beginning on Thursday.
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The American said in Miami last week that he feels content with his game and, more importantly, his life despite the winless start to the season.
“I’d say I’m in a great frame of mind. I’m happy about life,” he said.
“(I’ve) got a lot of positive things going for me, not only (with my YouTube channel) but outside of that, in business, and just the people that I have around me. I think we’re stronger than ever, and that’s what matters most, ultimately.
“Putting on a green jacket, winning the U.S. Open trophy, winning the Open Championship, the PGA Championship, that’s all great. But really what matters to me is the people that I have around me and who I can trust.”
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