Bryson DeChambeau's equipment change explained as golfer debuts with a new driver in 2023
Bryson DeChambeau is currently participating in the PIF Saudi International, his 2023 season-opening event. He was seen playing with a TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus driver during the first day of the event, which is big news considering the ace golfer has been a Cobra user for his entire professional career.
DeChambeau is particularly strong off the tee and a driver change by the former US Open Champion is definitely a big deal. He is known for even hitting 400 yards off the tee. He once hit over 377 yards during the par-5 sixth hole of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. During the 2021 Open Championship, he shared his dissatisfaction with his former drivers.
Although DeChambeau has a partnership with LA Golf that includes the signature shafts, he used a Project X T1100 shaft equipped with his TaylorMade driver.
Project X T1100 is designed for high-speed swingers and helps reduce spin through its counterbalancing features.
TaylorMade refused to provide any information or details about the club. DeChambeau is still featured on Cobra's website, where it describes him using either the LTD LS model or King Radspeed.
Sometimes back, he shared his opinions on the swing technology, stating that it was not at par with the players' performance.
“Anything over 185 mph, good luck trying to control it right now."
“We’re still on a pursuit to who can make a driver that can work it at 200 anywhere and everywhere on the face and still goes in the fairway," DeChambeau said. "When that day comes, that’s going to be eye-opening for a lot of individuals because they will be optimizing ball speeds at 195, which can fly 360 yards. And that’s going to change the game forever. But we’re not there yet.”
Bryson DeChambeau finishes Round 1 of PIF Saudi International at T71
Bryson DeChambeau sits on a T71 position as he shot a mediocre 2-over-72 in the first round at Royal Greens G&CC to sit in a tie for 71st.
The 2022 season for Bryson was quite unforgettable. He had to go through surgery twice and remained winless throughout the year, which happened for the first time in his career. Moreover, he shed around 18 lbs.
Abraham Ancer topped the leaderboard on Thursday with a score of 7-under, and Sebastian Munoz sits in second position with a margin of one stroke.
Cameron Young, who was allowed to play in the PIF-sponsored event, is tied for third with a score of 5-under alongside Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen. Lucas Herbert (T-18) and Cameron Champ (T-30) are two other PGA Tour professionals.
Dustin Johnson won it twice but had to withdraw from the event citing a back injury that he developed while practicing for this year's edition. Harold Varner III is the defending champion at the PIF Saudi International.
PIF is the financial backbone of LIV Golf. Initially a DP World Tour event, Saudi International was created in 2019. This year, the purse size of the ladies' and gents' event is the same ($5 million) which makes it the first event to do so.