In first round since Masters close-call, Bryson DeChambeau leads in Mexico

If you ever wondered if Bryson DeChambeau likes playing in the bomber-friendly, high-altitude terrain of Mexico City, you probably don’t know Bryson DeChambeau very well.

“It was fun hitting the ball far,” he said Friday.

Hard to argue that.

DeChambeau averaged 370 yards off the tee and hit three drives over 400 yards, and in his first round since the Masters shot an eight-under 63 on Friday to lead LIV Golf’s Mexico City event at Club de Golf Chapultepec.

“If the fairways get firm, it could be more [distance],” he said. “It could be a lot more.”

He drove the 396-yard 1st hole — his last of the day, which led to a birdie — and threw his hands up in the air to celebrate, a throwback to the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational when DeChambeau, then on the PGA Tour, cleared the water and reached the green on the par-5 6th at Bay Hill.

“It was playing 390, and I’m like, I might as well get it up in the bunkers and have a somewhat easy bunker shot, and fortunately I did that and got it up next to the hole,” DeChambeau said. “It almost went up by the hole for a somewhat easy eagle putt and then lucky enough to make a two-putt birdie. I misread the first putt. But it was a great birdie.”

DeChambeau’s 63 comes in his first round since the Masters two weeks ago, when he found himself in Sunday’s final pairing alongside Rory McIlroy, held the solo lead early but stumbled down the stretch.

He shot 75 and tied for 5th to record his second straight top 10.

“I felt good with the driver [today], thankfully, and that’s really kinda make-or-break for me,” DeChambeau said Friday. “Drove it well at Augusta, didn’t have my irons. Worked on my irons, feel like they’re a little bit better. Chipping around the greens was stellar today. Made some clutch putts. But all in all, it was fun to finish off with a nice bang on the last hole.”

After the third round at Augusta, DeChambeau worked on his irons on the range. He said Friday he’s dialing them back in and getting a little more comfortable.

“When I get under pressure and things get fast, my hands can get really quick,” he said. “I’m optimizing for some equipment and we’ve got some stuff coming here soon, after the PGA probably, but if I get that dialed and I’m under pressure and get those fast hands again, hopefully that will be alleviated this next time.”

DeChambeau holds a one-stroke lead over Cameron Smith and Jon Rahm, who both shot 64.