At least in this case, as Steve DiMeglio’s Onionesque account of the Shriner’s Hospital For Children score shredding, DeChambeau was joined by four players posting 63 and five shooting 64.
[Pausing here for a response from those who say scoring hasn’t changed due to the de-skilling of the pro game.]
Still, good laughs should be had at the absurd state of the skill/distance balance, a real tribute to the total loss of control by the authorities going on two decades.
It wasn’t a fair fight on a windless, sun-drenched day as DeChambeau, who won the U.S. Open at rugged Winged Foot in his last start, hit nine tee shots past the 300-yard barrier, including a 365-yard blast that reached the green on the par-4 7th. He is the first player in the ShotLink Era that began in 2003 to drive the green.
The No. 6 player in the world also drove the 315-yard par-4 15th – with a 3-wood. The longest iron he used for an approach was a 6-iron – and that was for his second shot on the 583-yard par-5 13th. Seven of his nine birdies came from within six feet and he was equally satisfied with two 10-foot putts he made for par.
All you can do is tip a cap to DeChambeau and friends. They’ve outworked, outsmarted and outmaneuvered the rulemakers. Even if their efforts makes a mockery of the game and render the meaning of a birdie or eagle fairly mundane, there is something to respect in the dominating performances.
Oh and there was this from DeChambeau after scrapping it around on a day the ballstriking wasn’t there (62):
“It’s amazing to see the power that’s out here now,” DeChambeau said. “I think that’s a testament to the new generation that’s coming up and what it’s going to be like in the future.”