Bryson DeChambeau's jaw-dropping power is forcing the PGA Tour to change the rules at The Players Championship
- Bryson DeChambeau's unmatched power on the PGA Tour is forcing some rule changes.
- Heading into The Players Championship, DeChambeau teased a shortcut he could take at No. 18.
- The PGA Tour responded by changing the out-of-bounds area on the hole to stop him.
Bryson DeChambeau is on quite a tear.
The reigning U.S. Open champion won again at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend and heads into this weekend at The Players Championship as one of the favorites to take down the tournament.
At Bay Hill last weekend, DeChambeau showed how his unmatched power on the PGA Tour allows him to see the course differently from other players, blasting drives over the water at the par 5 No. 6 that the designers of the course likely never thought possible. But this weekend, the PGA Tour is already taking steps to ensure that DeChambeau's power is kept in check, at least to a degree.
Ahead of the tournament, DeChambeau teased that he might take a radically new line on the par 4 No. 18 at Sawgrass.
The hole presents players with a daunting drive, with water taking up the entire left side of the hole and a narrow fairway to the right. A well-placed shot can lead to a birdie, but fly too close to the sun, and your ball will end up wet.
DeChambeau came up with an entirely different strategy - potentially playing across the water hazard and into the rough on the right of No. 9. He could then play his second shot back across the water onto the green.
"I have thought sometimes about, on 18, going left into 9," DeChambeau said. "It's not really that big of an advantage, but taking the water out of play and having an easier second shot, it may be easier, I don't know."
But before DeChambeau got the chance to try out his new line, the PGA Tour stepped in to stop him. Citing the danger to fans, workers, and volunteers, the Tour designated the area left of the water on No. 18 an internal out-of-bounds.
"In the interest of safety for spectators and other personnel, the Players Championship Rules Committee has installed an internal out of bounds left of the lake for play of hole 18," the Tour's statement read.
While the safety of those on the course is a valid concern, it's hard to imagine anyone wouldn't be watching Bryson if he were allowed to try out the new line - last weekend at Bay Hill, the course basically came to a complete standstill to watch DeChambeau take on the water at No. 6.
The change is understandable for the safety of those near the hole and preserving the spirit of the hole's design. No. 18 is a brilliant hole to finish out a round and a tournament and has provided plenty of drama over the years. To have one player saying "no thank you" to the water with such boldness would change the challenge it presents.
Ever since DeChambeau bulked up and became the longest hitter on the PGA Tour, he's been breaking the sport in ways we haven't seen since the early glory days of Tiger Woods' career. This week at The Players Championship, the PGA Tour drew their first line in the sand against him. Chances are, it won't be the last.