Former world No 1 Rory McIlroy has admitted he was at a loss for words at times during this past weekend’s US Open due to Bryson DeChambeau’s monster drives.
The American fought his way to a first Major title at Winged Foot on Sunday by claiming an extraordinary six-shot victory.
Despite DeChambeau receiving heaps of praise for his efforts, a lot of current and former players have been stunned by the way he’s been approaching the game recently.
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‘I don’t really know what to say because that’s just the complete opposite of what you think a US Open champion does,’ said McIlroy on Sunday evening.
‘Look, he’s found a way to do it. Whether that’s good or bad for the game, I don’t know, but it’s just – it’s not the way I saw this golf course being played or this tournament being played. It’s kind of hard to really wrap my head around it.’
DeChambeau finished the week as the only player under par and was also the only player to break par during Sunday’s final round.
Given the tough conditions at Winged Foot, DeChambeau managed to hit only four of his last 21 fairways on the course – an indication of how far he then actually hit it.
‘He hit a couple drives on Sunday that Harry [Harris English] and I just looked at each other, and we’re like, holy s***, that was unbelievable,’ added McIlroy.
DeChambeau emerged as a complete new player when the PGA Tour restarted back in June and took the time off to drastically strengthen his physique which led to this new long-driving phenomenon.
‘I thought I can see it week in and week out, PGA Tour set-ups that are a little more benign … but I sort of said, “OK, wait until he gets to a proper golf course, he’ll have to rein it back in.” This is as proper as they come, and look what’s happened. Yeah, he’s got full belief in what he’s doing, and it’s pretty impressive.
‘I think it’s brilliant, but I think he’s taken advantage of where the game is at the moment. Look, again, whether that’s good or bad, but it’s just the way it is. With the way he approaches it, with the arm-lock putting, with everything, it’s just where the game’s at right now,’ concluded McIlroy.
