Bryson DeChambeau entered the week at LIV Hong Kong excited about where his game is as well as the equipment tinkering he has done to set him up for success as the Masters.
On Wednesday, DeChambeau told the media in Hong Kong that he had switched his golf ball and was eager to try it out in a tournament setting.
The early returns, however, were not promising on Friday at Hong Kong Golf Club. The two-time U.S. Open champion fired a four-under 66 but left Round 1 still looking for answers.
“It’s spinning too much with my wedges,” DeChambeau told TV coverage after his round. “If I try to hit a full shot, it’ll rip off the green, and clearly you saw that on 15, and that was from a 95-yard shot downwind, ripped back 30 feet. There’s something weird with me in general and the way I play golf. I’m looking for a golf ball that launches a lot lower, has controlled spin at a full swing and half swing still has spin. That’s really what I’m looking for right now, and hopefully I can go find a golf ball that can do that because I’m not changing my motion. I’m doing too well with that.”
DeChambeau, who uses a Titleist ProV1x Left Dash, finds himself just three shots behind his Crushers GC teammate Paul Casey.
The 31-year-old DeChambeau opened the season with a T6 finish at LIV Riyadh and a tie for 18th at LIV Adelaide. He also finished second to Ollie Schniederjans at the International Series India event at DLF Golf and Country Club.
DeChambeau lamented his poor wedge play in Round 1 and admits it needs to be cleaned up with the Masters just one month away.
“Not my best. Not even close,” DeChambeau said of his play Friday. “Struck it well. It was tricky out here. This golf course can play tricks on you. I putted pretty well. I drove it very well. My iron play was pretty solid. But for the most part, I’ve just got to go work on those wedges like I’ve been talking about. That’s what’s costing me everything.”
