BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: GAME THEORY

ROCKET PERFORMANCE

DeChambeau in 2019 (Left) vs. 2020 (Right)

DETROIT GOLF CLUB–Emerging talent Bryson DeChambeau (26) scorched through The Rocket Mortgage Classic, dusting off a Sunday -7 to compile his -23 sum total for the week. A performance of that caliber made it impossible for us at Outdrive Me not to take notice! His driving has catapulted him as The Top Bomber on the PGA Tour crushing an excess of 323 yards per attempt, pacing his contemporaries while amassing a physique atypical to the sports general requirements. DeChambeau, already affectionately known as “The Mad Scientist” says he wants to be “The House.” As in a casino, because “The House Always Wins.” A modern day quip from a millennial Tour athlete who is willing to test, tinker, and press the limitations of his own body with a determination to power his way into the elite of the sport. Now: A “Power House,” Bryson has developed his body into the composite of a professional wrestler. He has been devastating tees with impunity while displaying a timely putting game. His short iron game is still in question, but the hottest topic on the Tour remains DeChambeau’s recent emergence which has been primarily fueled by his increased mass and strength. His peers discuss his 40 pounds of muscle gained during this past offseason with variant degrees of intrigue. He is currently swinging his driver just shy of 140mph and the ball leaves his clubface at more than 200mph! Can this ultra concerted effort of power translate with consistency in the Majors? Is this a game theory to be championed by those in the PGA meandering in the low equity of sub 300 yard drives? Could mass physical training be a substitute for the finesse and subtleties that we typically associate with the game of golf?

What’s undeniable is that pulverizing the ball off the tee is not only exciting to watch, but is also the most marketable portion of the game. As fans, we fawn at the majesty of a deep arching drive that screams across the sky and lands on the softest bed of grass at an apex length. For the sake of a sport that is now thrusted in the spotlight in a post-Covid world as one of our few options for distraction, the California native and Texas bred pro maybe ready for his close-up. With a more keen focus on his game, could we be in the midst of witnessing a total fluke, the second coming of John Daly, or golf’s Next Big Star?! Pretty exciting stuff to look forward to as we resurface from the catacombs of sports hibernation. A younger more risk taking breed of golfer primed to blend muscle with science and technology in this new era of the PGA. Vegas odds makers have taken notice: DeChambeau (10-1) leap frogged Rory Mcllroy (12-1) as The Masters favorite following this weekend’s victory at DGC, which will be showcased this fall at Augusta National Golf Club in November after having been postponed due to the pandemic. This definitely bears watching.

PGA Tour Stats Breakdown

Odds to win 2020 Masters (11/12/20)

Odds and Field Subject to Change – Updated 7.6.20

Bryson DeChambeau 10/1
Rory McILroy 12/1
Jon Rahm 14/1
Brooks Koepka 14/1
Justin Thomas 16/1
(DC*) Tiger Woods 16/1
Dustin Johnson 14/1
Patrick Cantlay 25/1
Xander Schauffele 25/1
Jordan Spieth 25/1
Tommy Fleetwood 30/1
Justin Rose 30/1
Webb Simpson 30/1
Patrick Reed 40/1
Rickie Fowler 40/1
Hideki Matsuyama 40/1
+Phil Mickelson 100/1

(VegasInsider.com)

Next Event: The Memorial Tournament **– Muirfield Village GC-Dublin, OH (July 16-19)

* Defending Champion

* There will be no fans in attendance due to Covid-19

January 4, 2014December 28, 2013

Man vs Machine

Ever imagined how a pro golfer would stack up against a robot? Watch this below video (or click here) to see Rory vs. the Robat – a target challenge between Rory McIlroy and a Golf Laboratory Computer Controlled Hitting Machine.

December 9, 2012November 25, 2012

Bing Crosby’s golf bet with man with a mysterious past

Legendary crooner Bing Crosby may have had a voice that was unrivaled, but it was a different story on the golf course. Crosby was no match for golf hustler John “Mysterious” Montague, even when given the upper hand. In 1937, the pair faced off in a match, in which Montague played with an unconventional set of “clubs,” including a rake, a shovel, and a baseball bat.

Montague was a happy and rotund man, who played golf and gambled with the celebrities of his day. He was the champion at Lakeside Club two years in a row, but he fervently dodged the limelight, hence his nickname. “Mysterious” Montague never discussed his past, career, and avoided getting his picture taken. On one occasion when he was likely to break the course record at Lakeside, he decided to bypass the last hole to escape the attention of the press.

Crosby, who was a five time champion at Lakeside himself, was amused when Montague suggested this off the wall bet. Bing and Montague agreed on a wager of $5 a hole, and Bing was confident that he would able to beat Montague’s equipment of junk with his seven-iron. The match ended when Montague hit the ball in with his rake for a birdie three. Continue reading “Bing Crosby’s golf bet with man with a mysterious past”

November 27, 2012November 25, 2012

Magicians on the European Tour

Promo video for the European Tour with some amazing tricks (I’m still not sure how he catches that ball) but perhaps the most impressive one was hitting an approach off the back of the club to within 15 ft of the hole. (Click here if you don’t see the player below).

There have been magicians on the pro tour for some time – check out this highlight of Seve Ballasteros putting magic at a 1984 exhibition match. (Click Here if you don’t see the player below).

October 27, 2012September 7, 2012

The History of Betting in Golf: Let’s make it a little more interesting

There is little that can better spice up a good golf game than waging a little bet with friends. Most of us keep it small and simple, betting a couple of bucks or a round of drinks. However, golf folklore is infamous for costly, outrageous, and just plain wacky bets.

Have you ever bet that you could make a hole in fewer strokes than your partner? So did Sir David Moncreiffe and John Whyte-Melville in 1870, but they probably played with a little higher stakes than your average bet. The records of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews report that the bet was literally life or death and the loser had to die. Although the records omit the outcome of the match, it is recorded that 13 years later, John Whyte-Melville gave a speech where he lamented “the causes that led to…” the death of Sir David Moncreiffe.

Such wagers in early Scottish golf were not uncommon, especially among the aristocratic class. Restrictions were even formally set by the Honourable Company in the mid-18th century to limit the amount one could bet on a game of golf, but were not followed as elite gentlemen continued to play for large sums.

In the early 20th century, golf bets became less extreme but far more unusual. There are stories of a man who bet he could win a game wearing a suit of armor, and another of a man who bet he could score under 90 in a dense fog.

There are also tales of golf debauchery in order to make sure a bet to swings in one’s favor. Infamous gambler, Titanic Thompson, bet that he could sink a hole in one 40 feet away. His poor opponent probably gawked in amazement as he made it in, unaware that Titanic payed a greenskeeper to lay a track straight to the hole. Don’t get any ideas!

More about Titanic Thompson, the man who could “sink” everybody.