One of the most compelling things about Bryson DeChambeau’s unapologetic quest for more driving distance is the speculation that accompanies his every start. What might he do next?
Every tournament, a new storyline about Bryson chasing a previously unthinkable feat emerges: driving the 17th at the Travelers, the 18th at the WGC-FedEx, the first hole at The RBC Heritage, and even the first hole at Augusta National.
But when it comes to a true video-game style ‘break the course’ line, there’s nothing quite like driving the green — on a par-5. Enter the 6th green at Bay Hill Club & Lodge. On paper, the hole is a 590-yard dogleg that wraps around a lake, but there’s a direct line from tee to green which means it’s ‘only’ about 340 yards as the crow flies.
There’s a reason most mortal golfers don’t try this line: As you can see from the photo above, keeping your ball dry requires hitting a drive that’s more then 330 yards of pure carry. There’s no rolling it up onto the green, it needs to fly the entire way. If you go for the green and don’t make it to the other side, you’re re-teeing hitting 3. But this year, Bryson says he’s ready to take it on.
“If I play this year I will definitely do it,” Bryson told GOLF.com’s Sean Zak during a one-on-one interview last week, sponsored by CDW. “Number six at Bay Hill is one of those I’ve been eyeing. I think I can do some pretty cool things on it.”
Bryson added that the only thing that could throw a wrench in his plans is if the wind swirls unexpectedly. He won’t try it if the wind gusts into him, obviously, but if it’s a little downwind as usual, it’s a “100 percent go.”
Watch the full video above, and get excited for some heroics this year at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
