Bryson DeChambeau, known for his powerful drives, humorously critiqued his celebrity caddie, comedian Kevin Hart, during the Masters par-three contest, claiming Hart had “one shot and fumbled.” However, by the end of the second round, it seemed DeChambeau’s own performance mirrored that sentiment.
From the outset at Augusta, it was clear that DeChambeau’s chances of claiming the prestigious green jacket were slim. While he retained a faint hope of making the cut, that hope was dashed in a disappointing and avoidable manner.
DeChambeau appeared poised to narrowly secure a spot for the weekend, which would have been a minor reprieve after a challenging 48 hours. Unfortunately, a disastrous performance on the final hole abruptly ended his tournament run.
Entering the Masters as a favorite among bookmakers, DeChambeau was anticipated to engage in an intense rivalry with Rory McIlroy at Augusta National. This year’s competition was highly anticipated as a continuation of their ongoing duel.
However, by Friday evening, the leaderboard painted a different picture. McIlroy was leading the charge, confidently advancing toward the weekend with his sights set on defending his title. DeChambeau, on the other hand, was no longer in contention.
DeChambeau’s challenge to McIlroy’s title defense was lackluster. He ended the tournament six-over par, missing the cut and trailing a staggering 13 shots behind McIlroy.
Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut following the second round of the Masters tournament
The American finished six-over for the tournament after a meltdown at the 18th
Admittedly, he had been better off praying for a miracle on Friday, rather than considering an attack on McIlroy’s lead.
Following Thursday’s opening four-over 76, DeChambeau faced an uphill battle to make the cut. He needed divine intervention. Instead, he received another meltdown.
On Thursday, his round unraveled when he twice failed to get out of the sand at Amen Corner. That ended in a costly triple bogey and 24 hours later he suffered the same miserable fate.
Like Thursday’s capitulation, a bunker proved to be DeChambeau’s downfall. His hacked approach shot from the pine straw on 18 found sand and from there, the carnage began.
He failed to hack it out of the steep-faced left greenside bunker on the first attempt. And his second was far from safe. While he managed to at least scoop it out of the sand this time, his ball landed on the front of the green and trundled all the way down to the fringe.
By the time the ball finally disappeared into the cup and he was put out of his misery, DeChambeau had carded a triple bogey and his Masters had come to a sudden end.
In fairness, DeChambeau did appear to have been handed one saving grace. A birdie at the par-five 15th had clawed him back to three-over and just inside the cut line.
It should have been an eagle. It needed to be an eagle. But his putt down the hill drifted right of the hole and he had to settle for the birdie.
Yet, even that would not have been enough to negate the damage that unfolded at the last. As he traipsed off the 18th green, the American looked defeated. A broken shell of the man who just 12 months ago challenged McIlroy for the green jacket.
Perhaps if he had spent less time joking around with Hart, rubbing shoulders with First Granddaughter Kai Trump and manufacturing his own 3D-printed five-iron, and more time practicing his sand saves, DeChambeau may have clung to the hope of a repeat.
The LIV Golf star failed to get out of the greenside bunker at the 18th on the first attempt
DeChambeau had been set to sneak into the weekend before his spectacular meltdown
Rory McIlroy set a new record for the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history
Or perhaps it was the age-old LIV Golf factor that once again called his green jacket credentials into question. DeChambeau wasn’t alone in his calamity. The Saudi-backed breakaway’s cohort struggled over the first round. Many failed to redeem themselves in the second.
To add insult to injury? Recent LIV deserters Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed had no issues navigating the treachery of a crips and fast Augusta National.
Reed had admitted this week that his abrupt LIV exit in January was due to wanting ‘that adrenaline back.’ Through the first two rounds, he undeniably rediscovered that thrill.
The American soared into the hunting pack in his LIV liberation with another three-under 69 on Friday.
Meanwhile, Koepka also produced a valiant 69 to claw his way to three-under for the tournament, leaving him tied-13 heading into moving day.
However, neither could match McIlroy. With a birdie at the last, the reigning champion set a new record for the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history.
Earlier this week, DeChambeau had said that it would ‘be great if we can continue that rivalry.’ On Friday, that rivalry died a torturous death as McIlroy and the Masters made a mockery of it.
