The Masters: Bryson DeChambeau owns infamous ‘par 67’ comments to race ahead in storm-delayed first round
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It was the comment that landed him in hot water with Masters fans and aged terribly, but – 13 rounds later – Bryson DeChambeau finally shot below his interpretation of par at Augusta National.
Nearly three-and-half years after his infamous “par 67” remarks, the American LIV Golf star tore around the fabled course with an opening seven-under 65 to race into a one-shot lead at the 88th edition of the major.
Storms had delayed the start of the first round by two-and-a-half-hours, but the 30-year-old wasted little time finding his rhythm despite windy conditions, tearing out of the blocks with three birdies before powering home with five more across the final six holes.
It marks big-hitting DeChambeau’s best round at Augusta since he controversially claimed that he viewed the course as a “par 67” – five strokes below its official scorecard number – as he could “reach all the par-fives in two, no problem.”
The November 2020 comments had come just two months after the renowned long driver had boomed his way to a six-shot victory at the US Open to clinch his first major title but have served to haunt DeChambeau ever since.
He finished tied-46th on his next outing at the major and missed the cut at the subsequent two tournaments, shooting below two-over 74 just once – a second round 67 in 2021.
“I have a level of respect for this golf course that’s a little bit different than a couple years ago,” he told reporters. “Clearly today was a great test of golf, and I was able to conquer a very difficult golf course today.
“Regarding the 67 comment, you mess up. I’m not a perfect person. Everybody messes up. You learn from your mistake, and that was definitely one.”
Asked whether his blistering opening round proved that there was some truth in his former remarks, a smiling DeChambeau questioned whether the reporter was attempting to “pigeonhole” him into doubling down on his contentious assessment.
“Look, I’m going to go out and try to shoot the best score I possibly can,” he continued. “Sure, if you want to line the math up that way, that is a perspective you can take. It was a perspective I had, and it cost me a lot of slack, I guess you could say. It definitely hurt some things.
“But look, I’ll say this again. I shot 65 today, and that was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve played in a long time. There’s three more days to go, and I’m not losing sight of that fact, that it’s right there in front of me. Just got to go execute.”
Ahead of the tournament, three-time Masters champion Nick Faldo had questioned Jon Rahm’s chances of defending the green jacket due to the relative lack of events on LIV Golf – whose 2024 season is comprised of 14 events played across 54 holes – compared to the PGA Tour.
Faldo told the Sky Sports Golf podcast that the Spaniard had “been playing resort courses in shorts for the past couple of months and hasn’t really been tested yet”, but DeChambeau – who joined the Saudi-backed tour in 2022 – has no concerns over his sharpness.
“That sort of schedule … has provided me good, ample time to get ready for tournaments like this,” said DeChambeau, chasing his second major title.
“It would be fine either way. I’m not going to side one way or the other. It is what is it. I just made good use of the time that I’ve been allocated on LIV to work on my golf swing, work on the equipment that I have, and getting to a place where I’m super comfortable going into the week.”
