Saudi International: Bryson DeChambeau 'flattered' by rule change to try and rein in golf’s big hitters

US Open champion has been at the forefront of the distance debate throughout the past year

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  Bryson DeChambeau of the United States kisses the trophy after winning the 2020 US Open at Winged Foot in New York. AFP

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  Bryson DeChambeau celebrates on the 18th green. USA Today

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  Bryson DeChambeau, caddie Tim Tucker, second right, and his team celebrate. AFP

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  Rory McIlroy reacts to his shot from the eighth tee. AFP

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  Bryson DeChambeau and Matthew Wolff shake hands on the 18th green. AFP

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  Bryson DeChambeau with the championship trophy. AFP

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  Bryson DeChambeau celebrates. EPA

Reigning US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau says he welcomes proposals to rein in golf’s big hitters, adding that he’s even “flattered” the game’s rules could be altered because of advancements he’s made in his play.

On Tuesday, governing bodies the R&A and US Golf Association (USGA) announced proposed alterations to equipment rules, which aimed to limit the sustained increase in hitting distance within the sport.

One revision would be to limit the driver shaft length to 46 inches, with the regulation coming into effect in time for the Masters in April.

DeChambeau, the current world No 8, has been at the forefront of the distance debate throughout the past year. The American, who won his first major by six shots in September, had been experimenting with a longer 48-inch driver.

Stakeholders have until March 4 to offer feedback to the governing bodies. A review of club and ball specifications has also been announced.

Speaking on Wednesday, on the eve of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisors, DeChambeau said: “I think the most important factor in this whole discussion is that [the governing bodies] are focused on keeping the integrity of the game and trying to make it more of a fair playing field, while not taking out the human element.

“From my perspective, I think it suits me really well. I'm still playing the 45.5-inch driver and it's suiting me perfectly well. So if someone was trying to go to the 48 for them they could gain six, seven miles an hour pretty quickly and now it's not a possibility

"And I think it's going to be more difficult for people to gain speed easily. They're going to have to work really hard, just like I have. For me right now, I feel it's a pretty good advantage from the way I look at it."

DeChambeau, 27, has become the longest hitter on the PGA Tour, regularly threatening drives of more than 400 yards. That has led to criticism that advancements in technology were damaging the game, including from Jack Nicklaus. In July, the 18-time major champion called on the R&A to “stop studying and do something” after DeChambeau hit a 423-yard drive at the Memorial Tournament.

“I welcome it as long as they don’t change the human element,” DeChambeau said. “I’m going to play with whatever they gave me. I’m not worried about it. I’m going to do what that they say is legal and I’ll just go from there and find the best way to play for me under the rules of golf.

“There’s no issues. It’s funny – I’m sure there’s a lot of excitement about me having a potentially controversial thought on it, but I don’t. I think it’s a really cool thought-process. It’s a little flattering in a sense, because I did talk about that 48-inch driver for so long, and it just didn’t work for me the way I wanted it to.”

Speaking before DeChambeau in Saudi, world No 1 Dustin Johnson said golf needn't look to have something in place to control distance.

“I don't think so,” said the American, winner of the inaugural Saudi International, in 2019. “If you look at the scores over the last 15 years, scores really aren't any different, and I don't feel like the game is too easy by any means.

“I think conditions are a big factor in scores. If you're playing a golf course that's soft and really good greens, we're going to shoot low. But you take that same golf course and make it firm and fast with a little bit of rough, and the scores are going to change dramatically.

“It's all conditions I think, like I said. But I don't think that we're hitting it too far or our scores are too good. So if they want to do something, that's fine, but obviously we'll all adjust to it and go from there. But as of right now, I don't think there's anything they need to do.”