After his first day back competing around the track he blitzed last year, Bryson DeChambeau laid out exactly why his record-breaking score is widely expected to remain intact this week.
“It's playing at least four shots harder a day if it was to stay like this, no doubt,” the Omega Dubai Desert Classic’s defending champion said on Thursday, following an early start when the wind whipped around the Majlis Course and the scores subsequently suffered.
It wasn’t just the weather that made it tough, though. Perhaps in response to DeChambeau's doddle last year, the fairways have been narrowed and the rough thickened. So, that tournament-record low score of 12 months ago – a barely believable 24-under par – seems safe.
On Thursday, DeChambeau carded a 2-under 70, made up of four birdies and two bogeys, that was four worse than his opening tally last time round.
That said, by the time he signed off, the world No 17 was only a couple off the lead, with David Lipsky having set the pace.
However, even though a baulked-up Bryson couldn’t overpower the course, he was delighted with the day's work.
“It was great, actually,” DeChambeau said. “Iron-play was great out of the rough and the fairway, and my wedge game around the greens was impeccable. Stuff I'm doing there is awesome. I'm still putting really well.
“Other than that, it was pretty much smooth sailing and still working on the driver. That's a work-in-progress, but it will be a work-in-progress until I get the right stuff in my hands.”
Playing partner Henrik Stenson, a former Dubai resident who had his paws on the trophy in 2007, was two shots worse off, yet ended the rounded in decent mood.
“Overall, it's certainly not a bad score out there,” the Swede said. “It's one of the tougher mornings in later years we've had to play here at Emirates Golf Club.
“It's blowing pretty hard, and the course setup is certainly tougher this year. I think Bryson put everyone off last year with 24-under. They won't have that one more time. Yeah, you've got to dig deep, no question.”
Stenson’s grind meant he mixed four birdies with four bogeys. It equated to a nice enough round, especially considering Lee Westwood, the other guy in the standout three-ball and winner on Sunday in Abu Dhabi, dropped shots on six separate holes and failed to pick any up. Runner-up in Dubai three times, he concluded the day on 6-over.
