Playing downwind and downhill helped. A bounce off asphalt played a large part. But a 427-yard drive is a 427-yard drive.
Bryson DeChambeau launched his tee shot on the 472-yard, par-4 12th — his third hole — in Round 1 of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. The ball caught the air stream, hit hard on the fairway, bounced off Tuckahoe Road, and settled 45 yards from the hole.
DeChambeau made birdie and followed it up with another on the par-4 13th to reach 2 under par early in his opening round, which was suspended Thursday night after a two-hour fog suspension in the morning.
The two-time U.S. Open champion wrapped up things Friday morning and closed with a bogey. It was, however, a good ‘5′ as he hacked his way around the par-4 ninth and made a 26-footer to avoid disaster.
DeChambeau shot even-par 70 to finish six back of Wyndham Clark. He then went straight to the range ahead of his 7:45 a.m. ET tee time for Round 2.
Wyndham Clark carries a big lead over the world’s best top two players at Shinnecock Hills with 36 holes left to play at the 126th U.S. Open.