Bryson DeChambeau Rips ‘Atrocious’ Proposal To Cut Down On Golf Ball Distance

Bryson DeChambeau

Getty Image


In 2020, Bryson DeChambeau became a bit of a sensation thanks to the physical transformation that helped him turned into what can only be described as an Absolute Unit.

The golfer had revealed his intentions to do exactly that the previous year, and the 40 pounds of muscle he was able to add with the help of a pretty wild diet allowed him to attack various golf courses in a virtually unprecedented manner thanks to his insane distance off of the tee.

However, his newfound power didn’t sit well with plenty of golf purists.

The fairly revolutionary approach led to Colin Montgomerie backing the push to force pros to use a modified golf ball designed to minimize driving distance and The R&A CEO Martin Slumbers suggested officials need to take a closer look at ways to restore balance as more and more golfers took advantage of the technological advances DeChambeau arguably exploited.

It took a few years, but it appears some big changes could be on the horizon.

On Tuesday, the USGA and R&A unveiled a proposal that would require players who take part in “elite competitions” to use modified golf balls capable of carrying a maximum of 317 yards beginning in 2026.

It’s safe to say DeChambeau is not exactly a fan of that plan, as he shared his thoughts on the development in an interview that was published on LIV Golf’s website, saying:

“It’s a great handicap for us guys that have worked really hard to learn how to hit it farther.

Look, if they do it in a way where it only affects the top end, I see the rationale. But I think it’s the most atrocious thing that you could possibly do to the game of golf. It’s not about rolling golf balls back; it’s about making golf courses more difficult.

I think it’s the most unimaginative, uninspiring, game-cutting thing you could do. Everybody wants to see people hit it farther. That’s part of the reason why a lot of people like what I do. It’s part of the reason a lot of people don’t like what I do.”

A representative for Titleist shared a similar sentiment in a statement that accused the governing bodies of introducing what they described as “a solution in search of a problem,” a stance Justin Thomas seemed to co-sign by posting it on Instagram.

The golf ball manufacturers who would be impacted by the distance proposal have until August to share feedback with the aforementioned organizations, and as things currently stand, it seems like they might be putting up a fight.

Connor Toole avatar and headshot for BroBible
Connor Toole is the Deputy Editor at BroBible. He is a New England native who went to Boston College and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. Frequently described as "freakishly tall," he once used his 6'10" frame to sneak in the NBA Draft and convince people he was a member of the Utah Jazz.