Bryson DeChambeau certainly made a case for himself with a powerhouse of a second round at the Masters. He carded a four-under par 68 to sit only one stroke behind the overall leader Justin Rose. Despite encountering some challenges on the course, including a bogey on the par-3 16th hole, DeChambeau demonstrated resilience and skill, particularly in his short game.
After a pair of consecutive missed cuts at Augusta National, DeChambeau is riding a wave of positivity. His recent improvement marks a tremendous breakthrough in his overall approach to the tournament. It would not be without a little bit of drama, as he made his only bogey of the round on the 16th hole. There, his tee shot fell short and left of the green. Despite this, he somehow went on to save par, showing impressive wedge play and then key putting around the greens on display all day.
DeChambeau commented on his practice routine, stating that he typically goes through 15 to 20 swing thoughts during a range session and averages about 100 swing thoughts in a week during tournaments. It’s obviously his excellent preparation and training that’s paying off. He’s gained over three strokes on the field per round around the green and almost two strokes in putting, according to DataGolf.com.
“It was just my iron play, trying to get my stock draw in there,” DeChambeau explained, reflecting on his strategy during the round. I know inside, he felt like his swing wasn’t quite right. It just felt like I was exposing the face too much,” he said. So, he did a lot of sequencing and face angle tweaking.
He lost a ball into the water on No. 15, resulting in a double-bogey during the third round. He rebounded by making seven consecutive pars starting at the eighth hole. This equanimity even amid chaos undergirds his mental toughness.
His mental approach might be the most important part of his game. He continued, “You need to fall short. You need to come back. You need to be ahead. You need to be behind. You should defeat every one of those desires and sentiments swirling around in your head.” And that’s why this is the most important game played between your ears.
DeChambeau has certainly been very devoted in his grind. Reports claim he has struck more than 800 balls in preparation for the Masters – and it shows. His diligence seems to be paying off based on how well he’s playing on the course.
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