MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It was an unlikely time for Bryson DeChambeau to hang an early low number.
In his first start since testing positive for COVID-19, DeChambeau shot a 5-under 65 Thursday that marked his best opening-round score on the PGA Tour in the past 10 months.
Why the surprise?
Because DeChambeau himself said a day earlier that he was lowering expectations this week, since he’d lost roughly 10 pounds and about 5 mph swing speed with his driver after his COVID diagnosis two weeks ago. That positive test result knocked him out of the Olympics.
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“Back out here and excited to play,” said DeChambeau in a brief post-round interview with PGA Tour Live. “Looking forward to the rest of the weekend. I feel like I can be there to win on Sunday.”
He declined to speak to the assembled press at TPC Southwind.
It’s been a turbulent summer for DeChambeau, who has just one top-10 finish since March and has generated more headlines because of his comments than his clubs. The first-round 65 is just the second time in his past seven starts that he’s opened with a round in the 60s.