ATLANTA – Bryson DeChambeau has posted a considerable amount of news lately, very little related to his actual game within the ropes, and made worse by good negative fan behavior directed at him.
Rory McIlroy stepped up to defend him Wednesday and said, “It’s very difficult to be Bryson DeChambeau right now.”
DeChambeau, the 2020 U.S. Open champion who has transformed his body and game over the past two years but has been the subject of numerous numbers in recent months, has decided not to speak to the media. communication in recent weeks.
He was the subject of many taunts last week when he lost a six-hole playoff of sudden death to Patrick Cantlay in the BMW Championship. This week, PGA Tour curator Jay Monahan announced a fan behavior policy that could see viewers expelled for undisciplined behavior, including shouting “Brooksy” at DeChambeau, an obvious mockery related to the ongoing contest. golfer with Brooks Koepka.
“I certainly feel some sympathy for him because I don’t think you have to be ostracized or criticized for being different, and I think we’ve all known from the beginning that Bryson is different and that he won’t adapt to the way people want let it be, “said McIlroy, winner of the Tour Championship, which begins Thursday at East Lake Golf Club.” It’s your own person. Think about your own thoughts and everyone has a right to do so.
“There are certainly things he’s done in the past that have brought some of these things to himself. I’m not saying he’s completely blameless in that. But at the same time, I think he’s had a pretty tough chance. And , actually, it’s pretty sad to see him because, deep down, I think, he’s a nice person and all he wants to do is try to be the best golfer he can be.And it seems like every week there’s something else. passes.
“And I don’t know if anyone on the tour has spoken for him, but I’m definitely sorry for him a little bit … I think he’s trying to be better and he’s trying to learn from his mistakes, and I think everyone should give him a chance to try to do it “.
DeChambeau has had a number of problems since winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March for his eighth PGA Tour victory.
An unreleased TV interview in which Koepka showed his disgust for DeChambeau at the PGA Championship went viral, prompting the two players to throw themselves at each other. Fans mocked DeChambeau at the Memorial Tournament, where a handful were kicked out. He fired 44 over the nine holes that closed at the U.S. Open after leading. He split up with his longtime caddy the day before the Rocket Mortgage Classic. He blamed his driver for a poor performance at the Open.
And then DeChambeau was eliminated from the Olympics due to a positive test of the COVID-19. Returning to the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, DeChambeau revealed that he had lost almost 10 pounds with COVID-19 and was not vaccinated. He then explained – erroneously – that those who need the vaccine more should be given it before him.
That week, while playing on the final day, DeChambeau had a good bite. And it has continued during the FedEx Cup playoffs.
“I heard some things last week – and I won’t say it – that were inappropriate and it wasn’t right,” Collin Morikawa said. “So it’s an unfortunate circumstance, because that’s what our game is about. Our game is about respect. … I understand, the world is changing, but that doesn’t mean you can go out and start saying everything. you want.
“It’s an interesting topic. I’m sure players have been called a lot of things over the years (different names, different nicknames), but that’s what it is and we hope it takes care of it.”
Cantlay, who played the final round with DeChambeau, was also sympathetic, but said that part of what is happening can be sought in the attention that players devote to themselves through social media and, more directly, to the player’s repercussion program, which rewards them for being active in creating their brands.
“I think when you have people looking for attention-seeking maneuvers, you leave yourself potentially open to having the wrong kind of attention, and I think maybe that’s where we’re at,” Cantlay said. “And it can be a symptom of attracting too much attention. But it can also be amazing, because if you’re successful and you act perfect all the time and you do perfect things all the time, then you’re also going to look for proper attention-seeking moves. you will get double bonus points because everyone loves you and you have the perfect side of it.
“I think it’s just a very agreement“ live by the sword, die by the sword. ”And when you leave it to a jury, you don’t know what’s going to happen, so it’s hard to get the 12 people a jury by your side. And if you’re playing professional golf on the stage where you play, and 98% of people bet on you and there are 10,000 people on the green … I don’t know, what does that leave, 20 people who “you don’t like it, even if 98% of people like it? You’re on the side, so yes, you have problems. For example, people will say bad things.”