The Slam: When will he learn? DeChambeau outdoes himself with not one but two controversies
Bryson DeChambeau just can’t keep himself out of the headlines, can he? Alex Perry wraps it up
Hello. Welcome to this week’s edition of The Slam. It’s all coming so thick and fast I barely know where to start. I’m still reeling from Jordan Spieth missing a 12-inch par putt at 18 during the third round of The Open and we’ve somehow managed to have another major, two Olympic events AND a WGC. My head’s spinning. So here’s some Bryson DeChambeau action…
Fore play
Having been forced out of the Olympic Games after testing positive for Covid, DeChambeau understandably began his week in Memphis fielding questions about that and whether or not he was vaccinated.
His response was baffling and, frankly, irresponsible.
“The vaccine doesn’t necessarily prevent it from happening,” the 27-year-old said.
No, Bryson, it doesn’t. But it will almost certainly prevent it from killing you.
He added: “I’m young enough, I’d rather give it to people who need it. I don’t need it. I’m a healthy, young individual that will continue to work on my health.”
And just in case he didn’t feel like he’d dug deep enough.
“I don’t think taking the vaccine away from someone who needs it is a good thing. My dad is a perfect example. He got it early on because he’s a diabetic. People like that need to get it. My mum got it. I don’t want to take away that ability.”
Which, really, is a bit like going into McDonald’s and saying you won’t have a Big Mac because you don’t want to prevent someone else from having a Big Mac. (Other fast food chains are available.)
With young people on both sides of the Atlantic opting to not get the vaccine, this is a remarkably unfortunate choice of words from DeChambeau, who should understand his responsibility better.
But he found a pretty easy way to take people’s minds off it.
Remember at Royal St George’s when he was called out for not shouting “fore” when ploughing one of his trademark bombs into the crowd? His response then, you’ll recall was awfully defensive. (“I do shout ‘fore’ – 99 per cent of the time!”)
European Tour stars Richard Bland and Edoardo Molinari were among the critics…
It kick-started a bizarre social media debate where people seemed to be in one of two camps. You were either chastising DeChambeau for his actions, or you were chastising the chastisers for not chastising other players for not shouting “fore”.
What a world.
Folks, not shouting “fore” is a proper horrific move. It’s OK to criticise DeChambeau for being guilty of it. It’s also OK to criticise Rory McIlroy, or Jordan Spieth, or whoever else.
One pundit even pulled out a “look, here’s Seve not shouting fore” card. Ah, all is forgiven then, Bryson.
Still, you’ve forgotten about the vaccine thing, haven’t you?
Abraham has the Ancer
DeChambeau’s week didn’t get any better. A back-nine 41 on Sunday blew him out of contention, while Harris English – looking to go wire to wire for his third win of the season, also failed to break 40 after the turn.
It left Hideki Matsuyama, long in the clubhouse after a 63, Sam Burns, and Abraham Ancer to battle it out in extra holes after all finishing at 16-under par.
And it was the Mexican who came up with the goods at the second attempt for his first win on the PGA Tour.
And another!
Another player getting his first PGA Tour victory was Erik van Rooyen, who won by five points over Andrew Putnam in the modified Stableford event.
Golden girl
It’s been some year for Nelly Korda. Or, as she’s known in some circles…
Korda has doubled her LPGA title haul from three to six this year, including a maiden major victory at the Women’s PGA Championship, and ascended to World No 1 in the process – ending a seven-year drought for the United States on that front.
And now she can add an Olympic gold medal to the collection.
Korda had some week at Kasumigaseki Country Club, and was a final-hole birdie away from a 59 during the second round. Alas, she stymied herself behind a tree and a double bogey meant she had to settle – in the loosest possible sense – for a 62.
With adverse weather conditions threatening to cut it to a 54-hole event, the players went out super early for Saturday’s final round. And while a pair of 65s from Japan’s Mone Inami and Lydia Ko, Korda managed to cling on to top the podium at 17-under.
Inami beat Ko in a play-off for silver, while the New Zealander adds a bronze to the silver she won in Rio five years ago.
Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow finished in 7th, three shots outside the medal places, while compatriot Leona Maguire finished T23 at -5.
The British pair of Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Mel Reid finished in a tie for 40th at even par and 55th at 9-over respectively.
See you at Le Golf National!
Home comforts
It’s always a special week when the European Tour is in St Andrews and especially so for Grant Forrest, who was born just 60 miles away in Livingston, after he lifted his maiden title.
It’s the first victory for a Scotsman on home soil since Paul Lawrie won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2012.
- RELATED: What’s in Grant Forrest’s bag?
Lee reigns in Spain
On the Ladies European Tour, the second of the four Aramco Series events took place in Sotogrande. The team of Ashleigh Buhai, Stacy Lee Bregman, Hayley Davis and amateur Ignacio Morillo took the spoils, while Alison Lee won the individual event for her maiden LET title.
Right, that’s enough from me. You can follow me on Twitter, if that’s your thing. But only if you say nice things.
Have a lovely week, whatever you’re up to.
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Alex Perry
Alex has been the editor of National Club Golfer since 2017. A Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.
