New year, same Bryson.
DeChambeau, speaking with Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis ahead of the start of the Sentry Tournament of Champions, set a goal of 210 miles per hour ball speed this year.
“I had a great year last year, but I said to myself, ‘I still want to get faster,’” DeChambeau said. “So, every day, I’ve been working hard. I haven’t given up the pursuit of trying to get faster in speed.”
DeChambeau’s 192.8-mph ball speed with the driver is the best on the PGA Tour, and it’s contributed to him ranking first this season in driving distance at 337.8 yards. We’ve seen him crack 200 mph during his speed training sessions posted on Instagram, but is 210 really doable for DeChambeau?
Sentry Tournament of Champions: Leaderboard | Photos
“100 percent it is, for him,” Justin Thomas said. “I mean, not other people, but, yeah, I mean I think it’s pretty clear that when he sets his mind to something or a certain speed, he’s been able to achieve it. It’s just a matter of how long it will take, I think.”
PGA Tour Radio’s Dennis Paulson, who was one of the long bombers during his day on Tour chimed in, too: “I won that long drive contest back when dinosaurs roamed Earth and he’s been speaking to the long drive guys about this stuff and to say he’s trying to get to 210 miles per hour ball speed just absolutely blows my mind,” Paulson said. “He has no end in sight. That’s the thing. Most scientists have an end spot, some hypothesis where they’re trying to get to. He doesn’t know where the end of the road is going to lead him. That’s impressive stuff.”
Leave it to Rickie Fowler, during a Cobra shoot with DeChambeau late last year, to put DeChambeau’s quest in terms the rest of us mere mortals can relate to when he cracked: “I think I might have sniffed 176 today.”
