Bryson DeChambeau, touting a video this week on his YouTube channel, claims to have “figured out something in my golf swing.” “Fourteen years of research on the golf swing has led me to this moment,” he says in the opening moments. It wasn’t hyperbole. Two rounds into the Hero World Challenge, it’s also led him to the top of the leaderboard. Here are three things you need to know after Friday’s second round at the Albany Golf Course in New Providence, Bahamas.
Bryson DeChambeau leads
Outside of a penalty drop, things clicked for DeChambeau on Friday. He birdied four holes on the front nine and six on the back, shot an eight-under 64 and took a one-shot lead heading into the weekend. He’s at 11-under, which is one shot ahead of rival Brooks Koepka, Tony Finau and Collin Morikawa.
DeChambeau’s wayward drive on the par-4 16th, which led to a penalty, kept it close. Finau, who has Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith caddieing for him this week, and Morikawa, who could become the world No. 1 with a victory, each shot 66s. Koepka, who bested rival DeChambeau at last week’s Match, bogeyed just one hole and shot a 67.
What would Koepka think of a potential rematch at the Hero?
“No, I don’t give any thought to it because there should be no part two,” he said. “I mean, I won the online battle, he can’t trash-talk, and I’ve won the golf. So 2-0, it’s tough to come back from.”
Half of the field is within five shots of the lead
Half of the 20-man field is within five shots of DeChambeau.
Two shots back are Daniel Berger, three back are Sam Burns and Tyrrell Hatton and Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed are four behind.
Half of the field is more than five back
If half of the 20-man field is within striking distance of the lead, that means …
Only two players are worse than par for the tournament. At one over is Ryder Cupper Harris English, and at three over is defending champion Henrik Stenson.
