Bryson DeChambeau already has the reputation — slow player.
Tiger Woods saw the slow-down first-hand on Thursday at the Memorial.
With the group of Woods, DeChambeau and Rose on the clock for the last eight holes of their opening round, Woods made the best of it, DeChambeau and Rose did not.
“We were on the clock most of the back nine so that made it a little complicated,” Woods said, being a bit diplomatic as his group fell well behind the Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth threesome in front of them.
“That was frustrating,” Woods continued. “They (Rory’s group) were obviously playing fast and we were obviously not.”
Despite the pace of play Woods managed three birdies over his final five holes (front nine) and turned in a two-under par 70. DeChambeau’s latest slump continued as he shot 74 while Rose staggered in with 75.
DeChambeau was fingered early for his pace of play. He felt it was unfair.
After the 18th hole, the group’s ninth of the day DeChambeau was subsequently informed of a bad time after taking too long to hit his second shot into the par-5 fifth hole, meaning that another bad time would have resulted in a one-shot penalty.
DeChambeau didn’t have another bad time the rest of the way, but he made a double bogey on No. 6 in the immediate wake of his warning from PGA Tour official Brad Fabel.
“He came up to me and told me I had a bad time. And I was like, do you realize I was deciding between laying up and going for it?” DeChambeau said. “And we’ve had struggles the past three holes in a row, hazards and making bogeys and all that. Was that not factored in? ‘Well, it’s just 40 seconds, it is what it is.’ Well, I don’t agree with that.”
Agree or not, DeChambeau’s getting that turtle reputation.
Woods shook it all off but admitted his round “could have been a couple of shots better.” Tiger hit 11 of 14 fairways but only 10 greens.
“Hit a couple loose irons early,” Woods said. “But hung in there and finally got it turned around at the end. Interesting thing is you try to take spin off of it with some of the short irons. They’re ripping back quite a bit with these slopes,” he said. “I’ve got to work on that on the range. I’m definitely feeling a lot better, and I’m hitting the ball a little better,” Woods added. “I just need to not make a couple loose mistakes like I did today.”
