Two swings from Bryson DeChambeau showed why he's unlike any other golfer on Tour
- Bryson DeChambeau won the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday.
- DeChambeau has a complete game, but his driving distance puts him on a different level.
- The difference in DeChambeau's distance was clear at the par 5 No. 6 at Bay Hill.
Bryson DeChambeau continued his mission to break the sport of golf over the weekend, winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill by one stroke over Lee Westwood.
DeChambeau played a brilliant all-around game, including finishing sixth in the field in strokes gained putting on Sunday. Still, it was once again DeChambeau's power that grabbed the golfing world's attention.
Heading into the weekend, DeChambeau had teased going for a big swing at the par 5 No. 6, which presents golfers with an intimidating stretch of water and a dogleg fairway. Players have control over how much of the water they dare to take on, but biting off more than you can chew can come with devastating consequences.
Before the tournament, DeChambeau said he wanted to take on the water with everything he had.
"If I play this year, I will definitely do it," Bryson told GOLF.com's Sean Zak in January. "Number six at Bay Hill is one of those I've been eyeing. I think I can do some pretty cool things on it."
On Thursday and Friday, the wind wasn't in DeChambeau's favor, leaving him to play for a regular booming drive rather than a massive one. But on Saturday, with DeChambeau well in contention, the conditions were right, and DeChambeau decided to take on the hole.
The results were astounding.
With a small crowd gathered to egg DeChambeau on, the bulked-up golfer launched a rocket over the water. When the ball eventually settled, he had somehow overshot his landing.
"I felt like a kid again, for sure. It was exciting," DeChambeau said after his round on Saturday. "Especially when you pull it off. It was almost like winning a tournament. I got the same chills and feeling when I saw it clearly, and there was no splash. I gave the fans what they wanted."
DeChambeau's drive was impressive enough to watch, but when placing his shot against those of every other player in the tournament, it becomes clear that his distance means he is almost playing a different sport compared to his competitors.
On Sunday, DeChambeau once again drove for glory and ripped another massive shot. This time he did it in the middle of a tight race atop the leaderboard.
Thanks to DeChambeau's two big swings at No. 6 on Saturday and Sunday, he would leave the hole with birdies both days - two important strokes to take off his score in a tournament he would go on to win by one.
DeChambeau's overwhelming power won't help him on every hole or every course - as last year's Masters showed, not every course is fit to be overpowered - but in the right circumstances, DeChambeau's strength gives him an advantage that no other player in golf can tap into.