Dubai: Having made people sit up and take notice of his inborn skills and ability with his rapid ascent up the golfing ranks, American trendsetter Bryson DeChambeau is also creating an impression as a forward-thinking player.
Speaking on the eve of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, DeChambeau called out in support of nine-hole golf to engage viewers, players and new audiences.
The R & A, the sports ruling authority throughout the world with the exception of America and Mexico, have already warmed up to idea when they strategically staged a tournament a week before The Open in 2016 on the same course at Royal Troon in Scotland.
The event was contested by amateurs and was acclaimed as a massive hit.
DeChambeau concurs and said: “A nine-hole format will definitely grow the game. That’s the biggest point, trying to get more people involved in a sport, which doesn’t take that long to play any more.
“Traditionalists will always be there, just like they were in Test cricket when the Twenty20 game made its mark. Some people will always think opposite but I’m convinced there is a market for the shorter game. I’m all for it.”
It is pertinent to recall what Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of the R & A, said after the 2016 experiment: “Nine-hole golf is not new, but we feel it is often overlooked as a perfectly valid way to play the sport either with your family and friends, or competitively.”
Padraig Harrington, the 2007 and 2008 Open champion also felt it was a great idea at the time.
“For regular amateur golfers to be able to play the Open venue in championship condition immediately before the best players in the world is a fantastic initiative,” he said.
“I’m sure this new competitive format will encourage more people to get out on the golf course and play nine-hole golf.”
Given these sentiments from some of the sport’s most powerful voices, DeChambeau, who is a relative newcomer to the sport and has quickly immersed himself in not just growing his game, but golf itself.
Widely shadowed for his scientific approach to the game, the world No. 5 offered an insight into his unique methods and how far he has progressed into becoming the perfect golfer.
“From my knowledge of what I have about the game of golf right now, I think we’ve accounted for probably half of everything,” he acknowledged.
“We’ve still got a long way to go. Obviously there are things that ultimately I will never be able to control, which is wind, but if we can create an air tolerance that’s good enough, then obviously that’ll be better than most out here. So we’ve still got a long way to go.”
On January 1, more than 30 changes were introduced to the rules of golf, some negligible, others of great significance.
Perhaps the most noteworthy is players will now have the option of putting with the pin in or out.
DeChambeau commented: “Pin in, that is an easy one. It’s statistically proven to be a benefit in 99 per cent of situations.
“The only times where I’ll pull it out is where if the shadow is right in my line because the flag is moving or there’s too much wind and you can hear the flag, pull it back, not a big deal.
“I agree with most of the rules changes. There are a few that are interesting. The spike mark one intrigues me, just because it’s related to hitting a shot in the fairway and it goes into a divot, why is that not ground for repair just like a spike mark.”
