For all of the forewarning about how Bryson DeChambeau and his 350-yard-plus drives were going to overpower Augusta National Golf Club and the 84th Masters, one thing got lost in the hype.
Scores matter. And DeChambeau’s haven’t been too good so far this week.
DeChambeau, who pummeled mighty Winged Foot into submission in winning the U.S. Open two months ago, has six holes to make something happen this morning at Augusta National. Otherwise, he will be packing his protein supplements and heading home.
Bryson DeChambeau finished with a triple bogey on No. 3 after losing his tee shot in the rough. He followed with a bogey on No. 4 and sits two shots below the projected cut line.
— ESPN (@espn) November 13, 2020
Friday’s rounds are live now on ESPN ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/S2PQUWv7hu
DeChambeau stood 1 over through 12 holes before darkness suspended his second round Friday. He will return to the course early Saturday, starting at the par-5 13th hole, and attempt to pick up at least one shot and be among the low 50 and ties to advance to the final two rounds. The projected cut was even par (scores).
DeChambeau was on most lists of pre-tournament favorites after his six-stroke victory at the U.S. Open. DeChambeau, 27, has won seven times on the PGA Tour, including twice in 2020 after the season restart in June. In three previous Masters appearances, his best finish was T-21, in his debut in 2016 as an amateur after he won the 2015 U.S. Amateur title.
As an example of his power, in the first round at the 510-yard, par-5 13th hole, he smashed drive over the corner of the dogleg-left hole that left him with only 124 yards to the pin. That’s a driver-sand wedge par 5. He hit it to 15 feet and will face an eagle putt when play resumes early Saturday.
Not much else has gone as smoothly for DeChambeau this week at Augusta National. He has made a 7 in each round, including a triple bogey on Friday after he lost a tee ball in rough just left of the 350-yard par-4 third hole. With no spectators lining the hole to help locate the ball, DeChambeau gave up the search after the allotted three minutes and returned to the tee.
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