Bryson DeChambeau mocks R&A, USGA with TikTok video over 'atrocious' plans

LIV Golf League player Bryson DeChambeau blasted the proposals to rollback the golf ball, mocking the R&A and USGA with a TikTok video.

Ben Smith's picture
Wed, 15 Mar 2023
Bryson DeChambeau mocks R&A, USGA with TikTok video over 'atrocious' plans

You can count Bryson DeChambeau as not a huge fan of the proposals to rollback the golf ball in 'elite competition' from 2026. 

The announcement from the R&A and USGA has been met as you would expect: a mixed reaction. 

Titleist were the first to fiercely criticise the model local rule which would limit the distance of how far the golf ball can travel in elite competition. 

The chief executives of the two major governing bodies, Martin Slumbers and Mike Whan, outlined the plans yesterday.

Slumbers said: 

"We strongly feel we have crossed the rubicon on distance and that we had to do something. Doing nothing is not an option and would be completely irresponsible of us."

DeChambeau memorably claimed his maiden major at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. 

Not only did he bully the competition, he bullied the golf course. 

He won by six shots and his victory marked the culmination of a full-body transformation where he bulked up and was unleashing simply monstrous drives. 

DeChambeau has since admitted his weight gain was a huge mistake

At the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational, DeChambeau memorably drove the lake on No. 6 at Bay Hill. 

The move will reduce the length of tee shots by about 15 yards.

Related: Nine players who changed their mind about LIV Golf

Understandably, he's not a fan. He even went so far as to describe the ideas put forward as 'atrocious'. 

He even mocked them with a TikTok video. 

DeChambeau, 29, told LIV Golf's Mike McAllister:

"It's a great handicap for us guys that have worked really hard to learn how to hit it farther. Look, if they do it in a way where it only affects the top end, I see the rationale.
"But I think it's the most atrocious thing that you could possibly do to the game of golf. It's not about rolling golf balls back; it's about making golf courses more difficult."

See the video here:

DeChambeau added:

"I think it's the most unimaginative, uninspiring, game-cutting thing you could do. Everybody wants to see people hit it farther.
"That's part of the reason why a lot of people like what I do. It's part of the reason a lot of people don't like what I do.
"But again, it creates more conversation in a positive way than cutting it back and trying to make everybody equal. I'm all about equality. I'm not about equity on this front." 

DeChambeau will be back in action with his Crushers GC at The Gallery Golf Club in Tucson over 17-19 March. 

They won the team element of the LIV Golf League's first event of 2023. Charles Howell III won the individual competition. 

Next page: Tour pro rips LIV Golf by dunking on Tringale