You may have noticed something different about Bryson DeChambeau when watching golf over the last two weeks.
He looks more like a prop in rugby than a linksman. He has spent just over a year bulking up in a bid to improve his driving distance. And the season pause amid the Covid-19 pandemic has provided further opportunity for the Dallas resident to pack on even more muscle.
The 26-year-old arrived at last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, having put on nine kilograms since the middle of March. Over the course of the four days in Texas, he produced radar numbers that felt more like a long drive event.
He averaged 340 yards off the tee at Colonial and leads the PGA Tour in driving distance at 323.5 yards – 21 yards more than he averaged last season. Signs of serious progress after placing 34th for this discipline just eight months ago.
During the off-season, he felt like he needed more distance to compete with the bigger names and, to his credit, he has gained mass while maintaining flexibility and mobility. Finding that balance is one of the hardest things in golf.
The five-time PGA Tour winner finished eighth in the RBC Heritage over the weekend, shooting five-under par in the final round on Sunday. That added power means he has now placed 5th, 2nd, 4th, 3rd and 8th in his last five events. A stunning run of results.
Although Colonial and Harbour Town are tighter courses, his stamina will be tested on the longer, wider greens over time, starting on Thursday at TPC River Highlands. Carrying that excess weight means the body may not hold up as well. It will be interesting to see how he fares for the rest of the season.
While some struggle to adapt to their barrelling physique initially, DeChambeau claims his fitness is better than ever, even after putting on 21kg since September. He’s consistently up there at the sharp end of the leaderboard. He’s playing the best golf of his career, and there are certainly signs that he can get better.
The world number 11 ranks second in Strokes Gained: Off the tee (1.119) and first in driving distance for the season so far, although his accuracy is just 121st (60. 24 per cent).
His wedge play and putting need improvements, ranking 100th and 27th on the PGA Tour respectively. It’s those deft shots from 50-150 yards that could be the tipping point between achieving top-5s and further victories.
If all his numbers are up since increasing his weight, then why aren’t other players following this same method? The American wanted to add size, strength and speed to every facet of his game. When at 88kg, he felt too light. Putting on the extra weight was a test. So far, it is working wonders.
In an era where strength is encouraged but not necessarily to the point of bulking up to big levels, DeChambeau is shattering a few myths and pummeling the ball to great effect.
At 109kg, he is an imposing presence, but it is hoped that he is not going to become so obsessed with length off the tee that other parts of his game are going to be the death of him.
His backswing is a lot quicker, triggering greater muscle activation, which can result in a faster downswing. For some players, getting bigger can hurt your swing as you can’t execute your effort as beautifully or with as much length.
An issue for DeChambeau could be overly taxed parts of his body that are not used to carrying too much weight. He’s moved from a medium shirt size to an extra large in less than a year. Bulking up cost Tiger Woods many tournaments and years, but the 15-time major winner always cut a leaner figure than his compatriot.
The one significant worry will be whether it is all sustainable for the California man. To swing at that intensity – nearly 200 miles per hour – could bring on aches and pains over the coming years, and lead to injury. If it starts to do damage then he will have to adapt again.
Every player is different. Packing on muscle doesn’t always have to be the answer for those seeking longer distances off the tee and improved results. The 2019 US Open champion Gary Woodland has gone the other way, losing 25 pounds during the lockdown so he could feel lighter around the fairways.
It all comes down to personal preference. However, one thing for sure is that the clever DeChambeau would have thought long and hard about his decision to spend more time in the gym. He was already a quality player and would have enjoyed a strong career earning millions of dollars, even without the added bulk. The extra speed and power should now provide him with a fresh cutting edge when it comes to competing against the elite names.
He is a unique character. He is always great to the fans. Some people don’t like him, feel he’s a bit of a know it all. Maybe he will muscle his way into our hearts over time. While we do not believe in some things he does to elevate his performance, he certainly believes in it and it is working for him.
He is a man who likes to work things out, and whatever happens, he will seek another solution.
