Bryson DeChambeau is in red-hot form entering this year’s Masters.
LIV’s change to 72 holes has benefited nobody more than DeChambeau, who comes into Augusta National off the back of two straight wins on LIV. He beat Richard Lee in a playoff in Singapore and Jon Rahm in a playoff in South Africa for back-to-back wins.
Last year was lackluster for the two-time major winner. DeChambeau won only once and finished third in the individual standings behind Rahm and Joaquin Niemann. Despite that, he was still able to contend for The Masters with Rory McIlroy.
This season, his game is in a far better place, but Brandel Chamblee says there’s something about Augusta National that will stop the American from claiming the Green Jacket.
What drives Bryson DeChambeau ‘nuts’ about Augusta National
DeChambeau took the lead on Sunday at last year’s Masters, but his approach play during his final round cost him. He shot a 75 that day as McIlroy left him for dust.
His iron play has consistently been the weakest part of his game, and Chamblee thinks that it will cost him again this year.
Speaking to Indo Sport, the Golf Channel analyst said, “It’s still the weakest part of his game, his iron play, and it’s been the weakest part of his game in particular at Augusta National for his entire career.
“Yes, he’s played well there the last two times. Because he does drive the ball well, and he had a historic week for him around the greens at Augusta last year. He led strokes getting around the greens, but it’s just not a great fit for him. Again, he’s the most linear golfer there is, and that’s an abstract place.
“It drives him nuts. He gets in tough spots, like on the 16th hole, day two, day three, the pin will be up or lower. He’ll miss it on the other side and three-putt. He averages about 43 and change greens a week there, so, about 9, 10 less greens than the person who ultimately wins.
“So, you know, I’ve seen enough of Bryson to think that, yeah, maybe he’ll contend because he does a lot of things well, but his iron play will prove to be a problem for him there.”
It has always been the weakest part of DeChambeau’s game, and there are no signs of improvement this year.
Bryson DeChambeau’s iron play no better in 2026
Despite winning in back-to-back events, DeChambeau’s approach play has still left much to be desired. In fact, in South Africa, where he beat Rahm to the victory, he actually lost strokes to the field in the event on approach.
DeChambeau’s play off the tee has been so emphatic that he was able to ride his distance to the win, but if you don’t have your irons completely locked in at The Masters, Augusta National will punish you.
If there have been any areas of DeChambeau’s game to pick holes in this year, it’s been his irons and his putting. Those are not areas where you want to be lacking confidence going into The Masters.
And over the years, his approach play has ruined his chances at Augusta. It was the only area where he lost strokes last year, and he missed the cut in 2022 and 2023 after losing a stroke with his irons both years.
Last year, DeChambeau’s play around the green kept him in contention, and he’ll need to rely on his short game magic to keep him in it again this time around.
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