Bryson DeChambeau's Bold Move: Breaking Barriers with 'Par 67' Remark to Lead in Eventful First Round

After making a controversial comment that upset Masters fans, Bryson DeChambeau redeemed himself by shooting below his own par score at Augusta National. It has been almost three and a half years since his infamous "par 67" statement, but the American LIV Golf star made a strong start at the 88th edition of the major, finishing with a seven-under 65 to take a one-shot lead.

Storms delayed the start of the first round by two-and-a-half hours. However, the 30-year-old wasted no time in finding his rhythm, despite the windy conditions. He started strong with three birdies and finished even stronger with five more birdies in the final six holes.

This round marks big-hitting DeChambeau’s best performance at Augusta since the controversial statement where he claimed to view the course as a “par 67.” According to him, he could easily reach all the par-fives in two shots, without any difficulty.

DeChambeau soared into an early lead.

DeChambeau soared into an early lead.

Bryson DeChambeau's November 2020 comments came shortly after his impressive six-shot victory at the US Open, where he secured his first major title. However, these comments have continued to trouble him ever since.

In his next major tournament, he finished tied-46th. Unfortunately, he missed the cut at the following two tournaments, only shooting below two-over 74 once - a second round 67 in 2021.

The golfer, who was once nicknamed "the Scientist" for his interest in trying out new technologies, is now taking responsibility for past mistakes. Although he claims his words were misunderstood, DeChambeau has acknowledged that they were indeed a "mistake."

"I have gained a newfound respect for this golf course compared to a few years back," he shared with reporters. "Today was a tough challenge, but I managed to navigate through the course successfully.

"As for the comment about my score of 67, I admit I made a mistake. We all make mistakes and it's important to learn from them. I definitely learned from that one."

DeChambeau has built a reputation for his thunderous drives.

DeChambeau has built a reputation for his thunderous drives.

During a press conference, DeChambeau was asked if his impressive first round performance validated his previous comments. With a smile, he playfully questioned if the reporter was trying to push him into reaffirming his controversial statements.

"Look, I’m just going to go out there and do my best to achieve the highest score possible," he said. "It's true that you can view it from a mathematical perspective. I used to see it that way too, and it did have negative consequences. It caused some setbacks and hurt certain aspects."

Golf - The Masters - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, U.S. - April 10, 2024 Bubba Watson of the U.S. with his daughter Dakota on the 6th hole during the par 3 contest REUTERS/Mike Blake

Golf fans gathered at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, U.S. on April 10, 2024 for The Masters tournament. Bubba Watson, a U.S. golfer, was seen with his daughter Dakota on the 6th hole during the par 3 contest. The heartwarming moment was captured by Mike Blake of Reuters.

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I want to mention again that I had a great round today, shooting 65 in golf. It was one of my best performances in a while. With three more days to go, I am focused on the fact that there is still more to come. I just need to keep executing my game.

Before the tournament began, Nick Faldo, a three-time Masters champion, expressed doubts about Jon Rahm's chances of defending the green jacket. He cited the fewer events on LIV Golf, which has 14 events in its 2024 season played over 54 holes, compared to the PGA Tour.

Faldo mentioned on the We Golf podcast that the Spaniard has been playing resort courses in shorts recently without facing much challenge. However, DeChambeau, who joined the Saudi-backed tour in 2022, is not worried about his readiness.

DeChambeau expressed confidence in his preparation, stating that the relaxed schedule has allowed him sufficient time to get ready for tournaments like this one. He is currently aiming for his second major title.

"It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not picking sides. It is what it is. I simply used my time on LIV to improve my golf swing, work on my equipment, and make sure I feel confident going into the week."

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Bryson DeChambeau's unique approach to the game of golf

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Scheffler looking ominous as Woods makes solid start

Scottie Scheffler, the tournament favorite, made a strong start by shooting a bogey-free 66, staying close to the leader.

The world No.1 came to Augusta in great form, aiming to add another major title to his win at Augusta in 2022. Just last month, he became the first player to successfully defend The Players Championship, followed by a dominant win at The Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Scheffler looks primed to make yet another run at silverware.

Nicolai Højgaard from Denmark was playing well at five-under par before darkness halted his second round with three holes left to play at 7:51 p.m. ET. He may surpass the American players before continuing his round. Warren Little/Getty Images

Several players, including Tiger Woods, will be completing their first rounds starting at 7:50 a.m. ET on Friday. The five-time champion had a solid start, opening with a birdie and being one-under through 13 holes. This sets the stage for the 48-year-old to potentially break the record for 26 consecutive cuts made at The Masters.

Reflecting on his performance, Woods mentioned, "The wind was really challenging today. It was one of the trickiest days I've experienced out on the course."

"It was a challenging task to gauge the direction and intensity of the beat, as it kept changing constantly. This inconsistency made it difficult to predict how it would affect the putts on the greens. Overall, it was a very tough day."

Woods made a solid start to his first round.

Warren Little/Getty Images

Rahm, the defending champion, started with a one-over 73, while McIlroy had a good beginning to his quest for the career grand slam, shooting 71.

McIlroy, in his 16th appearance at Augusta National, is just one green jacket away from joining a prestigious group of players who have won all four majors in the modern era, including Sarazen, Hogan, Player, Nicklaus, and Woods.

Paired with Scheffler and world No.5 Xander Schauffele, who shot 72, the 34-year-old was pleased with his start.

Gary Player from South Africa tees off during the Honorary Starters ceremony before the start of the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia on April 11, 2024. The event was captured by Jamie Squire in this photo.

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"Scottie's ability to play bogey-free rounds is truly impressive compared to other players in the field," remarked McIlroy, who last won a major in 2014.

He emphasized that the key to winning major championships and big-time golf tournaments lies in minimizing mistakes rather than solely focusing on making birdies.

“I made three bogeys today, which is fine out there in these conditions, but just need to tidy it up a little bit to try to keep up with him.”

Editor's P/S:

Bryson DeChambeau's impressive first-round performance at the Masters is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. Despite his controversial "par 67" statement three years ago, DeChambeau has shown that he has learned from his mistakes and is now playing with a newfound respect for Augusta National. His strong start to the tournament has put him in contention for his second major title, and it will be exciting to see how he performs over the next three days.

The article also sheds light on the ongoing debate between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Nick Faldo's doubts about Jon Rahm's chances of defending his title due to the fewer events on LIV Golf highlights the concerns that some have about the new tour. However, DeChambeau believes that the relaxed schedule on LIV has allowed him to improve his game and prepare for tournaments like the Masters. It will be interesting to see how the different schedules of the two tours affect the performance of their players in the long run.