Bryson DeChambeau believes the influence of legends like Tiger Woods and Ben Hogan has shaped many modern-day golfers into overly serious and mechanical players. Speaking exclusively to Flushing It Golf after attending the Dallas Mavericks’ win on December 23, DeChambeau opened up about how trying to copy his idols affected his early career.
DeChambeau said his on-course personality has changed since 2022, mainly because he stopped trying to imitate other players and chose to be himself. Early in his career, Hogan had the biggest impact on him.
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He explained that Hogan’s swing and calm, emotionless image left a lasting impression, especially after watching old videos of the golf legend. According to Bryson DeChambeau, many players tried to follow that same model.
“I think that’s why a lot of players are robots today, because of the likes of Hogan and what Tiger did. Tiger was emotional when he won, obviously, that’s where he let it out. And every other moment, it was just seriousness… And I tried to be like that for so long” DeChambeau said.
Tiger Woods has long been known for his discipline and strong mental control on the course. From a young age, Woods learned to block out distractions, manage pressure and stay focused on every shot. However, DeChambeau admitted that trying to adopt the same approach didn’t suit his personality.
“I remember putting ‘Iceman’ on my ball to try and be the stoic person and that just wasn’t me,” he said
DeChambeau added that it took him until his late 20s to understand who he truly was as a golfer.
“I was just going to be somebody different. And it wasn’t really until I was 28 or 29, I’d learned who I really was.”
DeChambeau said his love for golf remains strong, even after going through a period of personal change. He explained that the game now holds a healthier place in his life than it once did.
“I love golf. It used to be everything to me. Now it’s a great piece of my life,” DeChambeau said.
While Bryson DeChambeau has enjoyed success as a professional, he also went through a difficult phase in 2022, which he described as a turning point in his career.
Bryson DeChambeau opens up about his 2022 struggles
Bryson DeChambeau admitted that 2022 was one of the most difficult phases of his career, both on and off the course. He revealed that personal loss played a major role in that phase.
“Yeah, when my dad passed, I had some other tough moments I don’t want to talk about… It was a growing season for me,” DeChambeau said.
The two-time major player explained that 2023 became a reset year, as he focused on finding the right equipment and rebuilding confidence. He believes that work helped set the base for his strong form in 2024.
“2023 was a big growing season, getting equipment that worked better for me… Now I’m in a place where I’m building off of that.”
That progress has shown in his results this season. Bryson DeChambeau won LIV Golf Korea, recorded his best-ever finish at the Masters and finished tied second at the PGA Championship. His performance at The Open also stood out where he recovered from a first-round 78 to make the cut and close with a final-round 64, finishing inside the top 10.
He also led Crushers GC to three straight team wins on the LIV Golf League and a runner-up finish at the LIV Golf Team Championship, narrowly missing the title in a playoff against Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII GC.
Edited by Sonali Verma
