DeChambeau brings the thunder to Valhalla even if Schauffele takes glory

Xother Schauffele won the 106th American PGA Championship, but Bryson DeChambeau provided the thunder. Four days in Valhalla served as a reminder of DeChambeau’s star quality in a sport broken, possibly irreparably, by the arrival of the Saudi-backed LIV tour. Some shrugged when DeChambeau left the PGA Tour for LIV; in Kentucky he proved he has lost none of his ability to command attention. DeChambeau fell one stroke short of a playoff after Schauffele nervelessly holed from six feet on the 72nd green.

“I felt like I pretty much had my ‘B’ game on,” DeChambeau said. “My putting was A+, my wedge was A+, the short game was A+, driving was like B. I shot 20 under par in a major championship. Proud of myself for the way I dealt with setbacks. Definitely disappointing, but one that gives me a lot of momentum for the rest of the majors. I said this was closing time, but hopefully it will be closing time for the next few majors.

At the Masters, DeChambeau finished sixth. In 2023, a tie for fourth place at the American PGA stood out, in addition to a missed cut from Augusta and low positions at the US and Open championships. “Equipment is important,” DeChambeau said. “I learned that I can play golf with my golf swing, even if I don’t hit it well. If I do it right, I should benefit. I couldn’t do that at Augusta, my putting failed me. But I clearly did a good job here. I’ve come up with some good things. I just have to remember those things and use them for the US Open. I’m excited for Pinehurst.”

Many of the memorable moments of this major involved DeChambeau rather than the champion. His reactions were often as good as his shots. DeChambeau competed in the 18th on Saturday, prompting euphoric scenes. He hit trees on the 16th during round four and the ball miraculously landed in the middle of the fairway. The Californian hit his next shot within range for birdie. There was even more drama on the 18th when it seemed like an eternity before DeChambeau’s final putt fell. When that happened, DeChambeau had completed a box office 64. If the tournament had required extra holes, DeChambeau would have been the clear favorite to prevail.

“I really didn’t want to play with Bryson in the playoffs,” Schauffele said. “To go up 18th with his height, it’s not something I would have a lot of fun with.”

Scheuffle was spared the scenario. “I gave it my all,” DeChambeau said. “I put as much effort into it as I could and I knew my B game would be enough. It’s just clear that someone else played incredibly well. Xander deserves a major championship. I was emptying the tank. I certainly like to do that and give the fans everything I can.

“Sometimes I just look at myself and say, ‘You have to finish it.’ Whatever is going on, whatever you feel, you have to get the ball in the hole in as few shots as possible. To be better. I have to do better. And I did, I was just one shot short.”

DeChambeau is a part-time golfer and part-time content creator. This is actually one of the reasons why many in the golf world have a dim view of him. It would make more sense to criticize DeChambeau for his extracurricular activities if he couldn’t compete in the biggest events. In the aftermath of Sunday’s Valhalla, he was asked how he managed to be something of a showman.

“YouTube helped me understand that a little better,” he said. “When the moment comes, it is very important to know what to do, what to say and how to act. When I was younger I didn’t understand what it was. I would have great parties and all that, but I didn’t know what it meant and what I was necessarily doing it for. Now I do it much more for the fans and for the people around me and I try to be a bit of an entertainer who plays good golf every now and then.”

The pressure will be on DeChambeau at Pinehurst and when the Open rolls into Troon in July. The exemptions he earned for his 2020 US Open victory are about to expire. The tournaments themselves should hope that DeChambeau continues to find an entry route. He remains so fascinating to watch.