The PGA Tour re-start has wreaked some havoc on the rankings and such, with the current top of the OWGR looking like this.
Yet with seven top tens in a row including a victory, and looking at the players in front of him, it would be hard to find a clear answer. Webb Simpson has been playing rather well. Dustin Johnson has a victory in there too, but without the same level of consistency. Xander was a lip out away from maybe making a case? Rory, Brooks, Tiger, etc all seem to trail the current run of recent success.
Is Bryson Dechambeau currently the de facto #1 player in the world? If not him, then who?
The answer is yes and has always been yes. The dominate players of every generation have always been the longest players. None of them have been straight. On the weeks they are hot with the driver they dominate. They weeks they are not they are still in contention. If you can hit it long and get hot with the putter a couple times a year. You will never lose you card. Look at Cam Champ, one week each of the last two seasons, putter got hot and he got the W.
To answer original question Bryson and Webb are playing the best golf right now. Are they the best player in the world maybe? The Sagarin rankings which do a better job of showing who is playing the best currently still has Rory at number 1 (https://rankings.golfweek.com/rankings/default.asp?T=world). But if I was placing bets on the best player currently Bryson is getting alot of action
Yeah I have read those articles and I get the point they are trying to make. You can guess I don’t agree with them haha. It is certainly a very compelling story to follow along with. I do think that some people would not be able to get along with OL wedges, and that’s fine. I just see it as one of those things where the stats bear out a different story than the narrative.
The other less discussed thing is that even if his wedge proximity is poor, is it better than his proximity from farther out? Yes. And is it better than other players proximity from farther out? Also yes. And with him maintaining the same tee accuracy as before, that’s really all that matters.
I think this nails a lot of the conversation when it comes to wedge play and fairways hit
but wasn’t he no. 1 in putting last week? That helped his poor play inside 100 yds
There is no question his wedge proximity is poor. He ranks outside of the top 75 on tour in every approach stat from 50 yds to 150 yds. There is no doubt Bryson will figure that part out. IMO the change will be a slight change to his one length. I see him going to 8 iron length in all scoring clubs.
I think he’s been putting well for more than just last week. But at the Traveler’s he had 47 yards after his drive. It took him 2 more shots to get on the green. That’s just one example, I’ve seen some other suspect wedge shots out of him the past few weeks.
Obviously, when you win, you win, regardless of your wedge game. He’s gaining strokes elsewhere. But I don’t find that to be sustainable.
I don’t think DJ became the force he became until after he tightened up his wedge game. I’d argue that if Bryson tightened his wedge game, he wouldn’t just be the de-facto #1, he’d be the official #1.
~Rock
All of those rankings are because of the early part of the season when he was adjusting to his first bulk though. This week, he was T-18 from inside 100, better than Wolff, Armour, and Kisner. Each week since the return, he’s been much better than the early season. The season long stats aren’t really that relevant when talking about the current state of his game.
I am not sure what he will do ultimately to figure it out, although I believe he will. He obviously is searching to some degree, having moved from Cobra wedges, which I understand had to do with spin issues. As a plus index, you would know more than most (and more than I, since I am nowhere near that level of play), that controlling spin on a wedge is crucial. A deviation in spin rate of 600 on a wedge is going to change carry by 6 or 8 yards (guessing), which will make all the difference to consistent proximity. I have to believe that it is harder to control spin on partial swings when the shaft length of the wedge is the same as 7 iron. I think he either changes the length, as you propose he might do, or he is going to have to do a lot of work on his wedge play. JMO.
Has it gotten better yes, but to state it isn’t a problem is short sided IMO. Bryson knows it’s a problem and hence he has worked on it to make it better. Last week at Rocket Mortgage Bryson was 51st strokes gained approach to the green at -.485 and Wolfe was 16th at 2.954 strokes gained approach to the green. I would say Bryson won despite his approach game.
I think it is as well, but I do see the other side of the debate such as hitting a shorter club than others at approach so the comparison might be skewed.
I do not think he will be switching to two lengths though. At least not according to his shaft sponsor and what he is testing. That could change obviously.
One note, and I’m unsure but very curious how much of an effect it had, but ShotLink includes any shot within 30 yards of the green as approach, so some of his par 4 drives were included.
If he does go to two length it was only be once he has exhausted all options with the one length. Similar to when he tested one length in driver, fw, and hybrid. The distance loss was to great and he abandoned the idea of one length in those clubs.
Do you know or can you say, is he testing softer flexs in the scoring clubs? I could see that as an option
I have never seen how they corrected that issue, would be interested to know what effect it had
I think of anything, Bryson is one of few that I really am willing to switch over and watch though. Mad Gainz!
Entry into WGC events and majors if within a certain ranking
He is always testing but there is something interesting going on with player testing and these wedge shafts that explain a bit as they appear to be getting speed. I have not tested them but speaking with LA Golf and some player testers they all saw a distance increase. I’m not sure that is a good thing or bad thing, but I have a feeling it is playing a role with Bryson.
Obviously time will tell and by then who knows what he is playing.
Controlling spin is crucial to good wedge play and everyone does it different. I do it with swing speed and chocking down on the club. Bryson I believe uses a clock system. I just think with his added club head speed playing 6 iron length wedges makes it that much harder. Another thing to consider is guys with a ton of club head speed can struggle with wedge control. We have seen it with Rory, DJ didn’t really take off until he learned to control his wedges, and Butch talks about Tiger working on flighting the ball and 3 quarter swings to improve distance control when Tiger first came on tour. This may simply be a learning curve for Bryson now that he has more speed.
Putting?
Wasn’t he #1 in strokes gained in putting
I would probably put him #2 behind Rory. Rory had a similar stretch to DeChambeau to start the year and I’m not going to ignore it for being a long time ago.
Even if he is, it’s too small of a sample size. Talk to me in November after we have 3 majors.
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Not sure why any of that matters though, seems like handing out the World Series trophy in May, but if you’re a fan of Bryson and want to think like that go for it, I’ll wait for a few months of real PGA golf to be played and some majors before considering the top ranking.
Its not a modifier, its a question. Discussion is fun
Normally there isn’t much to modify, in this instance, the tour closed and then had to re-start later and condense.
Except for the courses played since he came back are not bomb and gouge courses. Plus the majors typically play longer than average tour courses. His length will give him even more of an advantage. Just ask yourself which shot you want 180 yds from the rough or 80 yds from the rough. Everyone misses fairways in majors. Guys that are longer have a huge edge. There is a reason the two best players of all time were also two of the longest and strongest of their generation.