The Ben Hogan quote that inspired Bryson DeChambeau to outwork his peers

With seven PGA Tour victories on his resume — including the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot — Bryson DeChambeau makes contending at the game’s highest level look effortless. But behind all of his outward success is years of hard work, both on and off the course.

Before his recent physical transformation, DeChambeau made a name for himself with his super-analytical approach to the game. His extensive research into how to best maximize his talents on the golf course coupled with his commitment to becoming the game’s longest bomber have earned DeChambeau a reputation as one of the game’s hardest workers. But where did that drive and strong work ethic come from?

Putting

“It was a quote from [Ben] Hogan that I got early in my teens,” DeChambeau said in an interview with GOLF.com. “[Hogan] said, ‘Every day that you’re not working is another day somebody else is getting better than you.’ And I took that to heart. Ever since then, I’ve always worked every single day as hard as I possibly can.”

For DeChambeau, that willingness to dig deep continues even when things are going well. During the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, which DeChambeau won by a whopping six shots, he memorably practiced into the night after finishing the third round — the only player remaining on the range, under the lights.

“If there’s sun, sunlight out, why not work as hard as possible? Why not try and figure something out that’s going to allow you to be more repeatable the next day?” DeChambeau said of his propensity to grind. “If it’s there, if you have the opportunity to hit golf balls and get better, or if you have the opportunity to go on your computer and figure out more for your business or whatever you’re trying to do and accomplish in life, why not do it?

“There obviously is a time for family, for rest, and for me I always say resting is when I’m sleeping. And so if you can take that to heart and work as hard as you possibly can, you only have so many seconds in the day, and you want to utilize every single second to try and accomplish your goals. Why not do it?”

Why not, indeed.