The Undeniable Talent of Bryson DeChambeau

A lot has changed for Bryson DeChambeau since he turned pro in 2016. He’s undergone a full body transformation, experimented with maxing out his ball speed, made numerous tweaks to his equipment stack, and switched tours. He’s gone from expressing annoyance at the cameras that threaten his brand to embracing cameras and engaging with the hundreds of thousands of people who follow both him and his YouTube content.

But throughout Bryson’s transformations on and off the course, his golf DNA has remained the same: he’s a thoroughbred champion. In 2015, well before most golf fans knew his name or his YouTube handle, Bryson DeChambeau won both the individual NCAA D1 Championship and the U.S. Amateur, becoming the fifth player to win both in the same year. With his 2020 U.S. Open victory at Winged Foot, DeChambeau became just the third player to win the NCAA individual title, the U.S. Amateur, and the U.S. Open, joining Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. And with today’s dramatic win at Pinehurst No. 2, he’s now a two-time U.S. Open champion, earning one of golf’s most prestigious honors on two iconic yet completely different golf course setups.

DRIVES THE GREEN! 😱@b_dechambeau has an eagle look. pic.twitter.com/HQIQQCVZuW

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

DeChambeau’s power and speed are certainly among his greatest assets. Averaging 318.9 yards across all tee shots, he led the U.S. Open field in driving distance among the players who made the cut by a healthy margin. But attributing DeChambeau’s success solely to sheer power is lazy. Bryson won four times in 2018 on the PGA Tour well before his pursuit of speed. Bryson is a complete golfer, excelling in every facet of the game.

During Sunday’s final round, DeChambeau blasted a drive well right on the 513-yard par-4 eighth, his shot settling into a clean lie in the dirt but facing tree trouble between the ball and the flag. From there, he pured a controlled, slicing long iron beyond the back left corner of the green. He then hit a magnificent pitch shot, buried the putt, and erupted with a massive fist pump, capping off a momentum-saving par that required every facet of his game after putting himself in jail off the tee.

When he stood on the 18th tee, Bryson shared the lead with Rory McIlroy. He pulled his drive well left of the fairway into the native area, punched his second shot into the greenside bunker short right, and left himself a terrifying 55-yard bunker shot to a tricky pin located on the back shelf of the green. Then, with the entire tournament hanging in the balance, DeChambeau calmly stepped up and executed one of the greatest short-game shots on a final hole in major championship history to win.

THE BUNKER SHOT OF HIS CAREER!@b_dechambeau has this putt left to win the U.S. Open! pic.twitter.com/Vleb6k6PvO

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 16, 2024

Exactly where Bryson stacks up with the best players in the world is up for debate. That’s an ever-changing exercise, subject to the whims and preferences of the ranker and often just a reflection of the most recent leaderboard. However, it’s impossible to deny the supreme, well-rounded talent that is Bryson DeChambeau – a golfer with all of the shots, all of the calculations, and most importantly, a well-stocked trophy case fit for a bona fide winner.

This piece originally appeared in the Fried Egg Golf newsletter. Subscribe for free and receive golf news and insight every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. For more coverage of the U.S. Open, visit our U.S. Open hub.