Bryson DeChambeau, the reigning U.S. Open champion, is making headlines at the 2025 Masters Tournament held at Augusta National Golf Club. DeChambeau left to play on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit in 2022. Ever since, he has undergone criticism for his drastic change—mentally and with his physical appearance. He’s retooled his entire physique, looking to change the game of golf forever by making distance king. As the tournament wears on, he suddenly finds himself just one shot behind halfway leader Justin Rose. This raises the prospect of redemption following his painful defeat at Augusta in 2020.
DeChambeau’s trip has been a lightning rod for controversy. He was often perceived as arrogant. Now, he’s worked hard to change—not just as a player, but as a person on the golf course. He recently called Augusta’s infamous par-72 layout “a par-67 for me,” summing up his confidence in his game. Despite a missed putt on the 18th hole during the second round, he muscled his way into contention, illustrating his determination to complete what he considers an unfinished job from last year.
A Changed Mindset
Bryson DeChambeau’s mindset heading into this year’s Masters is a much more experienced one. He doesn’t shy away from the truth that luck is a part of winning, but skill is king.
“To win it takes a little bit of luck and a great amount of skill set. I feel like my skill set is the same, if not a little bit better in certain aspects.” – Bryson DeChambeau
This willingness to self-reflect is a far cry from his former cockiness, a sure sign of a player who has made adjustments from mistakes made in years past. After leaving Augusta in 2020 with severe dizziness and mental fog — a major turning point for him — his life changed forever. While he’s certainly faced plenty of challenges, those trials and tribulations have yielded a more mature individual and a more earth-centered approach to competition.
That he’d promise to try his hardest, win, lose or draw.
“So I’m just going to give it my absolute best, and whatever happens, happens. And I’m okay with whatever does happen.” – Bryson DeChambeau
This announcement highlights his commitment to the idea of measuring success by performance and not just wins.
The Power of Support
An underappreciated part of DeChambeau’s time at Augusta has been the relationship he’s built with the patrons. He praised them for their constant support even in his most hopeless moments.
“The patrons have always been great here, first off. Even when I was in my trying times, I feel like there was still a lot of support.” – Bryson DeChambeau
This unique relationship with fans adds a deeper emotional layer to Shaq’s always high-energy performance, from a personal perspective driving him to win. The electric atmosphere of Augusta gives him an unmatched shot in his arm as he pursues to be better than great.
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