AUGUSTA, Ga. — Bryson DeChambeau entered Augusta National this week believing his golf skills are at their career peak as he prepares for another attempt at capturing his first Masters title.
The golfer came to the tournament fresh off back-to-back playoff wins in LIV Golf competitions, including a recent victory against former Masters winner Jon Rahm in South Africa. DeChambeau also brings valuable experience from nine prior Masters appearances.
After missing the cut twice early in his Masters history, DeChambeau has posted sixth and fifth-place finishes in the last two tournaments at Augusta. Last year, he played alongside eventual winner Rory McIlroy in the final group before struggling with a 75 in the last round, though he gained important insights from the experience.
“It was a great learning lesson,” DeChambeau commented Tuesday. “Leading or being tied for the lead and having the lead, that last group final round, gave me a lot of perspective on it. Then losing it and having things not go my way as they finished out and Rory completed the grand slam.”
“As I reflect back on it, the one thing I can take from it is I can put myself in those positions. The more I put myself in those positions, the better opportunities I’m going to have to win. It’s just been a gradual learning process. You never know what this week may bring, but I certainly hope to give it my all and put myself back in that position because I want to feel it again.”
When informed that recent major champions have averaged 32 years of age over the past 20 tournaments — exactly DeChambeau’s current age — he remained focused on his own preparation.
“If that’s the way the stats line up and they work in my favor, fantastic,” he responded. “I don’t try to look too much into that and focus on what I can accomplish.”
Beyond drawing from past experience, DeChambeau continues experimenting with his equipment. He’s testing new wedges from his South Africa trip while personally crafting his irons and driver. His final club selections for Thursday’s opening round remain undecided.
“There’s this nature that I have about myself where innovation is a habit of mine, and I really find and take pride in that ability to learn,” he explained. “Even through failure, even through making a bad decision or a good decision, what I can get from that.”
“So we’ll see where it goes, we’ll see where it takes me. All I could say now is, if I don’t put them in the bag, it’s my fault now.”
DeChambeau has become particularly fascinated with studying Augusta National’s notorious wind patterns. He carefully monitors changing conditions and how they influence his course strategy, club selection, and ball flight.
“For me, it’s a continual learning process. For me from a nerding-out perspective, it’s really about the wind this year for me,” he stated.
“I feel really good. It’s just about going out and executing.”
