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New year, same old Bryson DeChambeau.

Only five days into 2021, the US Open champion is already up to his headline-grabbing antics, this time at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. 

Ahead of the first PGA Tour event of the year getting underway in Hawaii on Thursday, DeChambeau was spotted on the practise green doing something characteristically unusual. 

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With his caddie Tim Tucker watching on, the American was seen hitting putts towards a tee peg. Nothing strange about that… until you consider the person he had holding an umbrella in front of the ball all the way until its final resting spot.

Check out the footage…

Confused? You’re not alone. 

Even by Bryson’s standards – a guy who has previously had people spritz his golf balls on the range to simulate early morning dew – this is an odd one.

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Naturally, social media users were quick to chime in with speculation as to what, exactly, he’s trying to achieve with this drill.

DeChambeau faces the media in Hawaii later today, so we can presumably look forward to an answer before too long. 

Meantime, speaking to the Golf Channel on-site at Kapalua yesterday, the big-hitting 27-year-old revealed that he has his sights set on breaking a tour record this week. 

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The longest recorded drive in the history of the PGA Tour was a 476-yard poke by Davis Love III on the 18th hole of the Plantation Course in 2004. On a course renowned for drives of more than 400 yards, DeChambeau naturally fancies his chances of setting a new mark. 

“Let’s be honest, that would be a lot of fun,” he said. 

Time will tell but, as ever, it’s shaping up to be another fascinating year in DeChambeau-land.


author headshot

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

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