Bryson DeChambeau’s first round at the 2020 PGA Championship had a little bit over everything. DeChambeau’s opening stroll around TPC Harding Park included five birdies, three bogeys and one accidental club snap.
After smashing his drive on the Par-4 seventh hole, DeChambeau leaned on his driver while bending down to pick up his tee and the club snapped just above the head.
Thanks to a 2019 rule enacted by the USGA, DeChambeau was allowed to replace his driver because he did not break it intentionally.
“I didn't really hear it because, I'm in the moment trying to hit the shot,” DeChambeau said of the incident. “Definitely the ball did not react proper. I hit it out to the right, felt like I drew it and the ball went to the right and spun up like crazy. I'm like, that's not normal.
“So, it was surprising, and then I just went over to pick up my tee, leaned on it a little, and the thing just went see you later. Scott and Rickie said, ‘That did not sound normal,’ and so I was fortunate to get some help on that and be able to switch out shafts and played decent coming in.
DeChambeau went on to par the hole and finished out the front nine with a birdie at the 515-yard, Par-4 ninth hole, making the turn at 3 under par.
While DeChambeau had his way with TPC Harding Park on the front nine, posting a bogey-free 32, the back nine was less kind to the No. 7 ranked player in the world.
After a birdie on the Par-5 10th hole, DeChambeau started to run into trouble.
He made bogey on the Par-3 11th hole after hitting his par putt through the break. DeChambeau answered the bogey with a birdie at No. 13 to get back to 4-under-par.
But wayward drives on No. 14 and No. 15 led to back-to-back bogeys, zapping DeChambeau of the early momentum he built on the front nine.
He closed his round with three straight pars to post a 2-under 68, three shots back of first-round leaders Jason Day and Brendon Todd.
DeChambeau could have posted a better number given the way he started, but he still put himself in a solid position to contend for his first major championship.
“I think the golf course changed dramatically on the back nine, and it was one of those things that you almost got to be careful and cautious,” DeChambeau said after his round. “I hit 4-iron off of 15, and the wind just blew it really hard to the right. The fairway got firm and I got an unfortunate spot. It just seemed like, you know, we were grinding to finish. The golf course showed its teeth, and you know, we took the brunt of it.
“I think tomorrow, hopefully in the morning, we can come out early and hopefully there's not too much wind, we can take advantage and shoot a low score tomorrow.”
DeChambeau will tee off at 8:22 a.m. PT Friday with Rickie Fowler and Adam Scott.
