If you are a golf nerd and watched Tiger Woods growing up, meeting him for the first time will leave you jittery too. And that was no different for the 2-time US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau either. Although the two golfers are now in two different teams, they were once like a pair and used to play golf frequently. One of the first times DeChambeau played with Woods was also during their initial meeting. In 2021, the 30-year-old was a guest at the Full Send Podcast, where he described the first meeting with the 15-time major champion.

Let us start by saying that DeChambeau has always stated Woods being one of his inspirations and idols growing up. He even joked that he was his dad. Regardless, meeting him was daunting for the 2-time US Open, which was in 2018 at Torrey Pines. Expressing his feelings at that time, he said, “That’s probably the most nervous I’ve been on the golf course in my entire life. More nervous than the Ryder Cup, more nervous than the Long Drive thing [Championship],” and asserted, it was the “coolest and most nerve-wracking” moment of his life.

DeChambeau revealed that he was texting Woods before the game, but he met him for the first time when Woods shook his hand and asked him to accompany him at Torrey Pines. And even though they were acquainted with each other, the 30-year-old shared the stoic mannerism of the 82-time PGA Tour winner. He said, “Shook his hand, and just like, nothing, there was nothing. He’d just look at you, walk right past you like you were nothing. And that’s when I first met him. You’d be like this, and he’d just look at you and just look away and not even know you were there anymore. That’s how weird but amazing it was.” 

After they started playing, DeChambeau was left awestruck by Woods’ aura, as he didn’t understand what to talk about with his idol. But after a few holes, the 2-time US Open started talking about putting, and that’s when the two started connecting better. DeChambeau found that he wasn’t the only scientist on the Tour then. He added, “He’s a nerd as well. Complete nerd. And I love it. It’s super awesome. I start talking about putting, he just goes down the rabbit hole, man. We just connected super well from that.” 

After that interaction, DeChambeau and Woods’s relationship blossomed. And then, in 2022, it came to a halt. Why? Because the 30-year-old left the PGA Tour and jumped ship to LIV Golf. In the last 3 years, how had DeChambeau’s friendship with Woods changed?

Are Bryson DeChambeau and Tiger Woods on talking terms now?

From texting each other frequently to no contact, Tiger Woods stopped talking to Bryson DeChambeau after he signed the contract with the PIF-backed league. The LIV golfer recalled the time when he wished Woods on his birthday, but he just didn’t reply to him ever. However, after going silent with DeChambeau for two years, things changed after he won the 2024 US Open in Pinehurst No. 2.

Although Mr. T finished 5 over at the US Open, and DeChambeau defeated Rory McIlroy, his best bud by one stroke, he still came to congratulate the LIV Golf pro for his major victory. The ‘Scientist’ didn’t reveal the extent of their conversation but told Golf Digest, “It is the first communication, but I’ll say he’s a competitor and I have a lot of respect for him. I’m sure that winning two US Opens helped, I guess, for him coming up and saying congrats. I don’t know what his position is, but it was very thoughtful, and I was appreciative of it.”

It was one of the first steps from Woods that mended their relationship a little. Although the PGA Tour and PIF merger is still hanging without any verdict, it seems that there are no hard feelings between the two anymore and they have gone past the former hostilities.