3 Years After His Damaging Augusta National Comments, Bryson DeChambeau Risks It All With a Bold Stance Ahead of Controversial Masters Participation

In his brief professional career, Bryson DeChambeau has managed to become one of the most polarizing figures in the sport. Be it his meticulous work ethic that turned him into a physical beast, or his controversial statements that exhibit his bumptiousness, the ‘Mad Scientist’ remains one of the most debated golfers around. With the prestigious Masters Tournament coming up, the 29-year-old was reminded of his past take on the Augusta National course, which turned him into a laughing stock back in 2020.

Bryson DeChambeau reflects on his brash Augusta National statement

Back in 2020, a completely bulked-up DeChambeau was making heads turn with his power-packed display on the PGA Tour. He had won his first major championship at the 2020 U.S. Open in September, and with sky-high confidence, spoke at ease of playing on the Augusta turf.

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

Alas, his words were backed by a subpar display that left DeChambeau reeling on a T34 finish. He shot scores of 70, 74, 69, and 73 for a one-over par.

It didn’t take the golf community long enough to criticize the golfer vehemently for his bold words and lamented his disrespect for the course. But three years since that incident, does DeChambeau regret falling into his self-made pit?

“Everybody has a perspective on it,” he said at the pre-match press conference ahead of this week’s Masters. “I don’t think I regret anything.”

DeChambeau showers respect for the Augusta National Golf Club

Furthermore, the LIV golfer revealed how people mistook his words for arrogance. “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?”

While DeChambeau admitted to making a mistake with his daunting words, he believed the statement would have been true had he played his “‘A’ game.” “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,” he said.

Ultimately, does DeChambeau regret the timing of his words? “Do I regret it? I learn from all my mistakes,” he proclaimed.

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