The Open, 2021

[rocket surgeon]

Shade aside, I don't think your concluding point is a bad one.  That is if he's intent on winning the Open.  Otherwise, I think his methods and mentality will do just fine in the US, how they set courses up, etc..

Recent off the field nightmares aside, I think there are some similarities between him and Trevor Bauer.  Both are extremely analytical and confident outside the box thinkers when it comes to their approach in their respective sports, rubbing people the wrong way while doing so.  Both were very accomplished as young amateurs and both took awhile to get it going with their approaches at the professional level but then broke through big.  Remains to be seen if its enduring or not.

bryson commits a sponsor "no-no"  blames bad first round on his driver-cobra says what???? bryson says i'm sorry...nothing worse than getting the stink eye from rickie


https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/id/31823540/a-frustrated-bryson-dechambeau-blames-first-round-open-woes-driver

[Uncle Rico]

Some bigger numbers in this morning wave but still a few decent rounds.  Course is showing itself well.  Morikawa -4 on his round through 9, though Finau was, too and gave 2 back on the first 3 on the back

[MuggsyB]

Some bigger numbers in this morning wave but still a few decent rounds.  Course is showing itself well.  Morikawa -4 on his round through 9, though Finau was, too and gave 2 back on the first 3 on the back

Morikawa has apparentky decided to go low.  It doesn't look like the wind is expected to blow much the next few days. 

[MU82]

On the wrong side of cut line with a few holes to play ...

If only Bryson wasn't stuck with that sucky Cobra driver ...

that Cobra pays him a bazillion dollars to promote!

[tower912]

Can't play bomb and gouge out of knee high fescue.

[MuggsyB]

Uhhhh....it looks like Louie decided he's not playing around.  -12 with four to play?  The dude can seriously swing it.

[JWags85]

Oosthuizen gives one back so he finishes at -11.  You have Morikawa, who won the PGA in dreary cooler windy conditions last year, 2 back.  You have Spieth 3 back and looking steady.  Then you have Dustin Johnson lurking at -7.

Should be fun.  Oosthuizen has been playing fantastic golf this year, but he had narrow leads in the 2nd/3rd round in both the US Open and the PGA.  So its not like he's been off to the races when he's had the bit in his mouth.

Personally pulling for Morikawa cause I think he could be a superstar but Spieth would be really fun too if he can avoid an implosion along the way.

[tower912]

Rooting for a Stenson-Mickelson Nicklaus-watson shootout.

[MU82]

Oosthuizen gives one back so he finishes at -11.  You have Morikawa, who won the PGA in dreary cooler windy conditions last year, 2 back.  You have Spieth 3 back and looking steady.  Then you have Dustin Johnson lurking at -7.

Should be fun.  Oosthuizen has been playing fantastic golf this year, but he had narrow leads in the 2nd/3rd round in both the US Open and the PGA.  So its not like he's been off to the races when he's had the bit in his mouth.

Personally pulling for Morikawa cause I think he could be a superstar but Spieth would be really fun too if he can avoid an implosion along the way.

Fun top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend. Looking forward to brunch and the British Open for two days!

Related:

If Cobra has a behavior clause in its endorsement contract with BD, this is a pretty good time to exercise it. To a corporation, having your No. 1 endorser tell the entire world that your product "sucks" is just about as bad as (or maybe even worse than) having him kill somebody.

[tower912]

Bryson walked it back.  Acknowledging that he sucks, not his driver

[Uncle Rico]

Love where Rahm is. 

[MuggsyB]

Solid bounce back rounds for Rahm and Koepka.  It should be a great weekend but I can't see Louie or Morikawa backing up much with the forecast. 

[MU82]

Bryson walked it back.  Acknowledging that he sucks, not his driver

Yeah ... but the damage was done, no?

"You lookin' at the Cobra driver?"

"Well, I was, but DeChambeau says it sucks."

"Yeah, but he came back out and said he was wrong."

"Sure, only after he had to. I'm not using that piece of crud. There are too many good drivers out there."

Seriously, I don't see how Cobra doesn't fire him.

Oh, and after he was asked about the wind, Koepka responded: "Drove the ball great. Love my driver! Everything's going really well."

Gotta love it.

[JWags85]

Bryson walked it back.  Acknowledging that he sucks, not his driver

It was bound to happen.  Dude was clearly just frustrated and venting.  As has been mentioned here before, despite all the nonsense, he's a nice dude and not some pretty boy who is a douche to everyone.  I think the pressure and noise around everything is getting to him.

Yeah ... but the damage was done, no?

"You lookin' at the Cobra driver?"

"Well, I was, but DeChambeau says it sucks."

"Yeah, but he came back out and said he was wrong."

"Sure, only after he had to. I'm not using that piece of crud. There are too many good drivers out there."

Seriously, I don't see how Cobra doesn't fire him.

I could understand if they did.  But that's likely cancelled out by one of the best players on Tour winning with it going forward.  If they think he's still a force to be reckoned with then it's probably a gamble worth taking.  Having that in the bag as he's atop leader boards makes people forget a throw away comment pretty quick

[Herman Cain]

Looks like a fun weekend ahead at The Open. Lots of quality players in contention.

[tower912]

A good explanation of why it is so difficult for ANY driver to go consistently straight when swung as hard as Bryson is swinging.   

https://golf.com/gear/drivers/bryson-dechambeau-cobra-driver-limits/

[MU82]

It was bound to happen.  Dude was clearly just frustrated and venting.  As has been mentioned here before, despite all the nonsense, he's a nice dude and not some pretty boy who is a douche to everyone.  I think the pressure and noise around everything is getting to him.

I could understand if they did.  But that's likely cancelled out by one of the best players on Tour winning with it going forward.  If they think he's still a force to be reckoned with then it's probably a gamble worth taking.  Having that in the bag as he's atop leader boards makes people forget a throw away comment pretty quick

I don't know if DeChambeau is a nice dude, a bad guy or, most likely, just a regular guy with some interesting quirks.

The pressure and noise ... well ... that's largely of his own creation, Wags. It's kinda like Cam Newton doing the Superman thing; when he wasn't Superman, he was easy to ridicule, and it didn't matter to many observers that he was one of the most charitable athletes in Charlotte sports history.

I'm not sure yet whether it would benefit Cobra or not to remain associated with a guy who told the entire world that their drivers suck. Would Gatorade have stayed with Jordan if, on live TV, he took a swig, spat it out, and said, "That's the most disgusting thing I've ever tasted!"? Maybe they would have. But if you're a corporation, you have to protect your brand. Who knows? Maybe the damage DeChambeau did to Cobra's brand can't even be repaired.

[pbiflyer]

A good explanation of why it is so difficult for ANY driver to go consistently straight when swung as hard as Bryson is swinging.   

https://golf.com/gear/drivers/bryson-dechambeau-cobra-driver-limits/

So my swing is just too damn powerful? That's my takeaway from this.

[Uncle Rico]

So my swing is just too damn powerful? That's my takeaway from this.

It's good to know we've never taken bad hacks at it before.  Feel better tossing that driver towards the cart now

[MuggsyB]

Complete meltdown from Koepka on 2 and 3.  I'm rooting for Speith or Morikawa but it would also be great if DJ found a way. 

[MuggsyB]

It appears the course is playing much harder with the pin placements but what do you expect the number to be by the end of the day?  I still think someone could shoot a 65 but I'm going with Morikawa leading at -13.  He could be an absolute superstar imo.

[MU82]

A good explanation of why it is so difficult for ANY driver to go consistently straight when swung as hard as Bryson is swinging.   

https://golf.com/gear/drivers/bryson-dechambeau-cobra-driver-limits/

My Callaway driver sucks.

It's the only possible explanation for me hitting an average of about 5 fairways per round!

[tower912]

Bryson has the same issues when he misses the sweet spot.   His swing speed dictates that the outcomes are magnified.  He has to try to keep the ball in the fairway at 320 and have it stay in the fairway as it rolls out to 350.   So his swing path and contact point have to be more exact.   

Many courses, he can get away with missing the fairways and still have a shot, based on rough thickness, trees, what is in front of the green.

Not at a British Open.

His driver is fine.   There is not one made that is perfect for his needs

[MU82]

Bryson has the same issues when he misses the sweet spot.   His swing speed dictates that the outcomes are magnified.  He has to try to keep the ball in the fairway at 320 and have it stay in the fairway as it rolls out to 350.   So his swing path and contact point have to be more exact.   

Many courses, he can get away with missing the fairways and still have a shot, based on rough thickness, trees, what is in front of the green.

Not at a British Open.

His driver is fine.   There is not one made that is perfect for his needs

Logical.

[MuggsyB]

Sweet Jesus.... what was that from Morikawa?  Nerves?  Look out for Rahm and Cam Smith.