DeChambeau collapses: Lead lost at the PGA Championship

In the demanding field of Quail Hollow Club, LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau was leading the PGA Championship on the 16th tee on Saturday.

DeChambeau, after a birdie on the 15th hole, was at 8 under par, leading by one stroke Davis Riley and Jhonattan Vegas.

I was pumped. I was like, ‘Alright, to the head. Let’s go. Let’s keep pushing.’
Bryson DeChambeau

However, fate had prepared a tough test for him in the famous final stretch of three holes, known as the “Green Mile”.

On the 16th hole, a 375-yard drive by DeChambeau veered right. His second shot, from 142 yards, landed on the edge of the green. After a chip and a missed putt, he suffered a bogey that relegated him to 7 under par.

Hole 17 was even worse. His tee shot from 187 yards didn’t reach the necessary distance, ending up in the lake. After a drop, his third shot landed 23 feet away, resulting in a double bogey 5.

I hit a big 9-iron exactly how I wanted. The wind just pushed it. I can’t do anything. The wind changed from being neutral down the right, as I believe it was on 4, and it was almost straight and we misjudged it.
Bryson DeChambeau

With a par on the 18th, DeChambeau signed a card of 69 strokes, 2 under par. He finished tied for eighth place with 5 under par after 54 holes, six strokes behind the leader, Scottie Scheffler, who with an impressive round of 65 strokes, 6 under par, seemed to take control of the tournament.

All I can do is control what I can control, and if I go out and shoot 6-, 7-under par, that’s what I’m focusing on. Not that that’s what I’m going to do, but you never know. But I’m going to play as low as possible.
Bryson DeChambeau

The odds are not in DeChambeau’s favor to win on Sunday, given the distance that separates him from the top. Most past PGA Championship winners were in the top five after 54 holes.

DeChambeau’s advantage in the distance of his shots (average of 331 yards) could be crucial, but he will need to play almost perfect golf. In the third round, he only hit five of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens.

Errors on holes 16 and 17 cost DeChambeau the chance to close in on Scheffler.