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.
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
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