MEMPHIS – Bryson DeChambeau is having another rough week.
Not on the leaderboard, mind you, where he’s posted 65-66 to stand four shots back of leader Harris English heading into Saturday’s third round of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind.
Instead, DeChambeau has created a couple of storms in other manners; first, for saying something and then for not saying something.
On Tuesday, DeChambeau told three reporters about his recovery after testing positive for COVID-19 two days before he was going to leave for Tokyo to represent the USA in the men’s tournament. He was forced to withdraw and DeChambeau acknowledged he had lost 8-10 pounds, about 5 mph of swing speed with his driver and he battled fatigued.
The world No. 7 and winner of 8 PGA Tour titles also said he had not been vaccinated, saying he was young, healthy, working on his health and added he didn’t want to take a dose of the vaccine away from others who need it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, notes there are no vaccine shortages in the U.S. And that 90 percent of all positive cases — and 95 percent of hospitalizations due to COVID — are the result of unvaccinated individuals. DeChambeau’s comments received backlash.
DeChambeau has only granted interviews to PGA Tour Live following his first two rounds. Two European Tour players who are not in the field, however, spoke up and took DeChambeau to task on Twitter for not yelling “Fore!” when one of his errant drives headed toward the gallery.
Following the first round, Richard Bland, who won his first European Tour event this year at the British Masters and took the lead at the U.S. Open through 36 holes, didn’t hold back when criticizing DeChambeau after watching the telecast on TV.
“Bryson ploughing it into the crowd again off the tee & no shout of “Fore.” Maybe it needs someone to get seriously injured for him to learn.’”
Bryson ploughing it into the crowd again off the tee & no shout of “FORE”
maybe it needs someone to get seriously injured for him to learn
— Richard Bland (@blandy73) August 5, 2021
Three-time European Tour winner Edoardo Molinari also chimed in on Twitter after the telecast.
“It shouldn’t be difficult to understand you should always shout “fore” when you hit a shot into the crowds. When is someone going to do something about this? Hopefully before a spectator gets seriously hurt!”
It shouldn’t be difficult to understand that you should ALWAYS shout “fore” when you hit a shot into the crowds… @b_dechambeau
When is someone going to do something about this? Hopefully before a spectator gets seriously hurt! pic.twitter.com/kSXnEe70XW— Edoardo Molinari (@DodoMolinari) August 6, 2021
At the British Open last month, DeChambeau was asked why he doesn’t shout fore when one of his shots heads toward the gallery.
“I do shout fore,” he said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. There are plenty of people on the tee box that do shout fore. You’re bringing up a very controversial thing, which is unfortunate, but 99 percent of the time I do, and unfortunately, people think I don’t.
“But that’s OK, they can say whatever they want.’”
Bland and Molinari did just that.
Bernd Wiesberger also chimed in, insisting that DeChambeau should be fined for his actions.
Horrendous. Should be fined just like slow play. Penalty shots and, if needed, DQ. https://t.co/RULdPGrwaa
— Bernd Wiesberger (@BWiesberger) August 6, 2021
As for DeChambeau, he’s had a rough go of things after a sterling March where he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and tied for third in the Players Championship.
He’s had an ongoing spat on social media with Brooks Koepka.
He held the lead in the final round of the U.S. Open before shooting a 44 on the back nine.
He and longtime caddie Tim Tucker split on the eve of the Rocket Mortgage Classic.
At the British Open, he created a firestorm with his equipment company when he said his driver “sucks.” DeChambeau eventually apologized.
And he had to withdraw from the Olympics after getting COVID.