Bryson DeChambeau has “no regrets” over par-67 remark

It’s one of the most infamous quotes in recent Masters history – the time that Bryson DeChambeau described Augusta National as a par-67. 

That was back in November 2020 ahead of the COVID-delayed edition of the tournament.  

“I can reach all the par fives in two, no problem,” he told the Golf Channel. “If the conditions stay the way they are, that’s what I feel like par is for me.”  

He promptly shot rounds of 70, 74, 69 and 73 to finish one-over. Or, to apply his logic, 18-over.  

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Speaking to the media ahead of this week’s first major of the year, the former US Open champion was quizzed about those remarks. 

“Everybody has a perspective on it,” he said. “I don’t think I regret anything. I have a lot of respect for the course. Like people, because of that statement, they think I don’t have respect for the course. Are you kidding me? This is one of the greatest golf courses in the entire world, and if anybody thinks I don’t have respect for the course, they’d better go check out who I actually am because it’s not accurate one bit.  

“Hypothetically, theoretically, look, if you make 18 birdies it’s going to be 54, right? It’s a perfect score, right? Unattainable, 67 every day, unattainable. It can happen, but is it likely to happen? Probably not.” 

At the time he made those remarks, DeChambeau was in the midst of a total physical transformation that turned him, quite comfortably, into the biggest hitter in the game.  

He has since throttled back on that approach but remains one of the game’s longer players. 

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“With the distance I’m hitting it and was hitting it, I thought there was a possibility [of playing it as a par-67] but that’s only with your ‘A’ game, and I should have rephrased that; if you have your ‘A’ game, there’s a good chance of being able to do that. 

“Long story short, I don’t want anybody to take it out of context. I just want it to be known for the fact that I have great respect for this course, and clearly I shot, what was it — what did I shoot last year and missed the cut? A lot? I shot like 10 over, so what’s that, five shots more, something like that? So, 10 more shots? So, I shot like 22-over par. I can make a joke about it.  

“Do I regret it? I learn from all my mistakes.” 

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor