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Of course, DeChambeau announced in 2020 that, for him, Augusta National was a “par 67” and four years later the player formerly known as the Mad Scientist and the Incredible Bulk at last lived up to the boast with this 65.
However, he was humble later, recognising the daftness of that statement that earned him ridicule as he failed to hit anywhere near his supposed par total. DeChambeau has missed his last two Augusta cuts and this was a huge step forwards for the fascinating individual who won the US Open during the pandemic.
The 30-year-old was one of the stars of a Thursday that was predicted to be a wash-out, but which ultimately provided a gripping beginning. Saying that, play was delayed for 2½ hours as storms skirted the Georgia city, but after the brutal forecasts the sense was that Augusta had got away with one. The layout was softened and although the winds picked up throughout the day, the gusts were not as treacherous as first feared.
DeChambeau, out in the fifth group, tore into Alister MacKenzie’s magnificent creation, birdieing the first three and then, after throwing in a bogey on the ninth, he completed the inward nine in 32.
It was an impressive effort by the big-hitting LIV rebel and represented a comeback in the majors from the time when he threatened to revolutionise the game. When he joined LIV in a £100 million deal in 2022, he was not in good shape, but he has toned both his body and his hyperbole.
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