EXCLUSIVE Q&A: On the Tee with Bryson DeChambeau

Making his PGA Tour debut as an amateur in June 2015 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, Bryson DeChambeau did not know he would become a five-time PGA Tour winner by the age 26.

Q. You’ve been on the PGA Tour for only three years and have already won several tournaments. Which was the most memorable for you and why?

BRYSON: I have been fortunate enough to win five times on the PGA Tour up to this point in my career. There is no doubt my first win at the 2017 John Deere Classic was extremely special, but I would have to say winning the 2018 Memorial Tournament is the most memorable thus far. I did not bring my best from tee-to-green on Sunday, but I was really able to scramble well. I was hoping to two putt and avoid a playoff on the 72nd hole, but we wound up going into a playoff where I relied on my ball striking to give me the best chance to win. Finally, on the 2nd playoff hole, I hit a great second shot into the green and sealed the victory with a 10-foot birdie putt. To walk off the 18th Green after the playoff and shake Mr. Nicklaus’ hand as the champion of his event was an absolute honor.

Q. What was it like playing in your first Ryder Cup, and what did it mean to you to represent the United States of America?

BRYSON: To me, there is no greater honor than having the opportunity to put on the red, white and blue in competition and represent your country. To have the opportunity to play on the 2018 United States Ryder Cup team was a great honor. I had the chance to partner with both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson that week in Paris. For me to get a chance to partner with two of my childhood idols in a Ryder Cup is something I will never forget. While we did not play our best that week as a team, it was an incredible experience. I look forward to working hard to make the team in 2020 on home soil at Whistling Straits when we will have the home crowd advantage.

Q. You are very close to your father. Can you talk to us about your relationship with him and how he has influenced your unique approach to the game of golf?

BRYSON: My father was the first one to ever put a golf club in my hands. I remember at three years old riding in the basket of a golf cart watching him play. I am grateful to him for introducing me to the game I love today. My dad supports me in my unique approach to the game, and I have always been one to do things a bit differently. When I first went to the One Length Irons in 2011, he was a bit skeptical of my coach Mike Schy and me, but he is pretty pleased now how things have turned out. My dad always told me it would never be easy to have success at the highest level, but whenever things got difficult, he would always remind me to “Keep Swimming.” That simple saying from the movie Finding Nemo has been something I always went back to when I needed to dig deep and pull through during a difficult stretch.

Q. You are heavily involved in education, specifically physics and math, and you utilize these principles while playing golf. Can you fill us in on exactly how you apply this to your game?

BRYSON: Education, physics and math all play a key role in the success I’ve had on the PGA Tour. I was a physics major at Southern Methodist University for 3.5 years. I always had a strong interest in understanding the world around me. I always want to know more and understand why things happen the way they do. I work closely with my caddie, Tim Tucker, in preparation for each event and make sure we leave no stone unturned and try to account for as many variables as possible in the game.

Q. You consider yourself a “golfing scientist” and have actually developed your very own set of single-length irons. Since this is out of the ordinary, how did you know this was the right move to make to help elevate your game?

BRYSON: In 2011, my coach Mike Schy and I decided to go down a rabbit hole and try something different. I was always looking to do things my way and not worry about what anyone else had to say. If they worked, that was all that mattered. One day I asked Mike, “Why can’t all the irons be the same length?” Mike responded, “That is an easy question to ask, but a difficult one to answer.” From that point on, we began the journey to prove there is more than just one way to play the game.

Q. We are honored to have you support the Trump brand. Talk to us about how your relationship with the Trump Organization has evolved and what it means to you to represent Trump Golf.

BRYSON: I am extremely honored to represent Trump Golf and have the relationship with the Trump Organization that I have. From Larry Glick, to Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., the entire team is always behind me 100%, and I am grateful for their support.

Q. You have played several Trump Golf courses. Which course is your favorite and why? What Trump course is next on your list to play?

BRYSON: I love all the Trump Golf courses I have played so far. I really enjoy Trump International Golf Club in Palm Beach. I feel it offers a unique collection of holes, with not one hole looking or playing the same as the other. I love the risk-reward options throughout the golf course, starting with the drivable par 4 sixth hole. Holes 14-18 are unlike any other holes that I have ever played in Florida. The elevation is really unique and the holes are just beautiful.

In 2022, Trump National Bedminster will be hosting the PGA Championship. I have heard nothing but great things about the golf course, and I am really excited to play a major championship on a Trump Golf property. I am hoping to get up to Bedminster to visit the property a few times over the next couple of years to familiarize myself with the golf course.