Bryson DeChambeau explains how YouTube changed his golf career and image
Bryson DeChambeau has claimed becoming a Youtube star has helped him become “an entertainer” on the golf course.
The 2020 US Open winner shot a superb bogey-free 64 to finish second behind winner Xander Schauffele at the US PGA. But the LIV Golf star wowed the crowd with his fist-pumping celebrations and takes home the title of People’s Champion.
The American, 30, attracted more controversy than popularity at the start of his career. But the world No.35 now posts tips on golf and life to his 600,000 followers on Youtube and 400,000 on TikTok. And he said he now relished his role as a showman on and off the course.
“Yeah, it's actually funny,” DeChambeau said. “YouTube has helped me understand that a little bit more. When the moment comes, knowing what to do, what to say, how to act is really important. You know, when I was younger I didn't understand what it was. Yeah, I would have great celebrations and whatnot, but I didn't know what it meant and what I was doing it necessarily for. Now I'm doing it a lot more for the fans and for the people around and trying to be a bit of an entertainer that plays good golf every once in a while.”
DeChambeau even claimed he now entertained himself after he carded 19 birdies and two eagles to shoot 20-under par and equal the previous Major scoring record. “I shocked myself a couple times, yeah,” he said. Putted fantastic. I don't feel like I missed one big-moment putt out there.
“There's obviously a couple misses, but every time I needed to get up-and-down I got up-and-down, and every time I needed to make a 6-, 7-footer I did. So I definitely surprised myself, impressed myself and I know I can do it again, it's just going to take some time. Got to figure some stuff out.”
DeChambeau was dubbed the Mad Scientist for using irons all the same length - and then added 40 pounds in muscle during lockdown to power his way to his first Major. He became obsessed with length off the tee and claimed in November 2020 that the par-72 Augusta National was “a par 67 for me” because of his length off the tee.
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Bryson DeChambea's YouTube venture has seen his popularity surge recently
At the Masters last month, he explained he had never intended to become a polarising figure. “I'm a very passionate individual, and some people can take that in a pretty negative way,” he said. “Others can take it in a way of: ‘Wow, he's trying to pave a pathway and his own path’.
“I think that's a pretty big misconception; that I'm divisive. I'm really not. I don't try to be. It may come off that way because I'm passionate about certain things and certain subjects. That's up for interpretation and opinion. And, look, I respect everybody's opinion and what they think. I have no issues, and I understand the pathway that I pave is going to be viewed in multiple ways.
“I'm just learning to be myself and continuing to be okay with what happens. And from my perspective, what's been really nice and helpful for me is doing a lot of content on YouTube, as crazy as it sounds, it's been really awesome to see how I can affect a lot of people's lives, junior golfers' lives, middle-aged men, even, they are coming out shouting: Thanks for the content. Appreciate what you do online. It's pretty cool to see that type of transformation and change. I have a new perspective on life with that.”