Bryson DeChambeau doffed his cap to the crowd after finishing his round on the 18th hole at Royal Birkdale, a gesture that encapsulated his complex relationship with golf fans. Whether viewed as a villain or a victim, the American has become the player everyone is talking about at this year's Open Championship.
DeChambeau's Opening Shot Draws a Crowd
Whip, crack, whoosh—DeChambeau's opening shot flew into the distance, pitched, skipped, and tumbled into the rough left of the fairway. By the time he reached the ball, a big crowd had gathered, standing on tiptoes, perched on mounds, and tilting sideways to peer around those in front. Marshals with hands out tried to usher fans back as they spilled under the ropes onto the playing area.
“Careful Bryson!” someone shouted as he waded into the rough, and everyone broke out laughing. Many spectators watched through their phones, eager to capture the moment. As one observer noted, people don't just want to see DeChambeau play golf—they want to show everyone they've done it. “Did you even go to the Open if you didn't get to see him?” seemed to be the sentiment.
DeChambeau vs. McIlroy: Attention Magnet
There are 156 great players in this Open, and DeChambeau played alongside Sam Burns on Saturday—world No. 18, a five-time PGA Tour winner, and a US Open runner-up. But Rory McIlroy is the only other player who receives anything like the same attention. DeChambeau's YouTube channel has more subscribers than most PGA Tour events have TV viewers. The film he made with Donald Trump last year pulled in a bigger audience than Sunday at the Masters. He also chairs the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
The way he handled the two-stroke penalty on Saturday had a streak of DJT to it: admit nothing, deny everything. While he hasn't reached the point where he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody without losing his audience, it's clear that a large part of his fan base doesn't care about him trampling rough at Royal Birkdale and “inadvertently” improving his lie. If anything, the idea that he was the victim seemed to make them warm to him more. DeChambeau even received a standing ovation when he walked onto the tee box for his opening shot.
Crowd Reactions: Cheers and Taunts
As DeChambeau walloped his tee shot onto the bank at the back of the 3rd green, a shout of “watch where you're standing, lad” rang out. Oohs and aahs followed as he trod through the grass to find the best line to the pin, as if watching him pick his way across a tightrope. Someone bellowed “Don't go cheating Bryson!” as he walked up the 5th, then ducked away when his friend hurriedly said “He's looking over!” On the 18th, someone shouted “Up the R&A!” But supportive shouts like “C'mon Bryson!”, “Let's go Bryson!”, and “You can do it Bryson!” were far more numerous.
DeChambeau Works the Gallery
By the time he reached the 9th, DeChambeau was playing along with the crowd. He spread his legs as wide as they would go while standing over his ball, as if scared of improving his lie for a second time. For a man who is so bad at handling people that many fellow pros admit they don't care for him, he is pretty good at working a gallery. He made everyone wait a long minute at the 9th tee while fans pleaded with him to get his driver out, before he finally ripped off the head cover like popping a champagne cork.
DeChambeau sent that shot 350 yards, all the way to the front edge of the green. “What a bullet!” someone whispered as it whizzed overhead. He walked off down the fairway, arms raised, flicking two thumbs up at the crowd. He ended up missing a birdie putt from three feet, then tossed his ball to a little kid who had called out for it.
Entertainment and Controversy
He went on this way: playing a bunker shot while crouching on his knees, rattling an approach shot into a TV camera, making impossible putts, missing implausible ones. Infuriating some, enrapturing others, entertaining all. He walked up to the 18th green with his cap off, pumping his fist at the crowd, then cupping his hand to his ear to hear their cheers. He finished one under for his round with two bogeys and three birdies, and six under for the championship but still one shot off where he had been the previous evening before being penalised.
Opinions Divided
Everyone has an opinion on DeChambeau. According to one observer, “He deserved the penalty and was fortunate that the R&A accepted that it was unintentional.” Others may argue he was the victim of overzealous officiating. The point isn't whether anyone is right, but that he has the golfing world's attention again. Maybe he'll win the Open, maybe he won't; either way, come Sunday he'll still be the golfer everyone is talking about.
