How Bryson DeChambeau’s clever rules usage — put him on a home’s balcony

A tee ball over trees in front of him. A tee ball blocked right. A second shot stuck in shrubs. A clever rules thought. And a moment atop a home’s second-floor balcony as two men, two women and a child looked on, bewildered. 

Or, put another way, Bryson DeChambeau Bryson DeChambeau’d. 

“I got to be honest with you,” on-course announcer Pat Perez said on the broadcast, “that’s the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever seen.”

The two-time major winner is, to put things mildly, creative, and the creativity spilled all over the Grange Golf Club’s par-5 13th hole Saturday. During second-round play at LIV Golf’s Adelaide event, we saw:

— The tee ball over the trees in front of him. You can play things straight up on the 548-yard hole. Or you can aim at about a 1 o’clock angle and curve the ball over the vegetation about 75 yards ahead of you, shaving some yards off the mild dogleg right. DeChambeau liked option two. A fan shouted: “Send it hoooome.” Then came …

— A tee ball blocked right. Instead of moving left, his ball went only right, toward more trees. Uh-oh. DeChambeau pointed right. Playing partner Abraham Ancer pointed right. DeChambeau hit a provisional, and this ball drew. Said analyst David Feherty in comparing the two shots during the broadcast: “You could put a Walmart in between those two.” Then came … 

— A second shot stuck in shrubs — and a clever rules thought. DeChambeau found the first ball among some shrubs. But how would he escape? Hmm. How far away was the hole? Hmm. Wait, he seemingly thought, is that a home with a second-floor balcony? Would its habitants let him up? Rangefinders are legal to use, per LIV Golf rules. Hmm. Then came … 

— A moment atop a home’s second-floor balcony as two men, a woman and a child looked on, bewildered. This sight, shown on FS1’s coverage, was making the rounds on social media. DeChambeau climbed some steps, and one man took a selfie as he did. One woman recorded it. DeChambeau looked toward the hole ahead and to his left. He walked back toward the stairs and called for a rangefinder, which was tossed his way, seemingly by his caddie, Greg Bodine. DeChambeau used the yardage device. At this point, the home’s onlookers realized they were on camera and waved.

Said Feherty on the broadcast: “Something you don’t see everyday. How you doing, missus?” 

Said analyst Jerry Foltz: “What a story those homeowners and friends have. Bryson stopped by today. Wanted to say hi.” 

Said Feherty: “Bryson DeChambeau’s in the yard.”

So what happened from there?

For those watching at home, the broadcast didn’t show. But LIV Golf photographer Jon Ferrey snapped a shot of DeChambeau hopping over a black fence that separated the home from the course — while the child waved — and then DeChambeau punched out back to the fairway. Notably, Perez said on the broadcast that if the home’s occupants hadn’t spotted DeChambeau’s ball, the pro likely wouldn’t have found it. 

“So he could owe them something tomorrow night,” Perez said.   

Entering the hole, DeChambeau was a stroke off the lead, but a bogey six was part of a five-bogey-over-six-hole stretch, and he’ll start the final round six strokes from the top. Ancer, meanwhile, is tied for the lead — and he was still processing the DeChambeau scene after his Saturday round. 

“Yeah, I was in the middle of the fairway,” Ancer said, “and he blocked it right, and off the tee, you can’t really see where that would land because there’s some trees. Myself and DJ [Dustin Johnson, the other member of the group], we were in disbelief — like, where did he find that ball? He ended up hitting it in the middle of the fairway from the bush, and I think he almost made par, which would have been insane. Then I see him in the house on the balcony. I had no idea what was going on.”

Did DeChambeau actually leave the course?

“I think so,” Ancer said. “I think the house might be outside — I was like, is that OB or not? Obviously the ball wasn’t OB. I think he just got on there to see where he could go.”