After an opening 4-under 68, Bryson DeChambeau was part of a pack of players, tied for 19th place, chasing a trio of leaders at the BMW Championship.
Friday at Caves Valley, however, it was all about Bryson.
DeChambeau started his round birdie-birdie-par-eagle-birdie to grab everyone’s attention. This birdie at the par-4 seventh got him to 6 under on the day and in a share of the tournament lead at 10 under.
Make that 6-under thru 7 👀 pic.twitter.com/LlrZIsfYUZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2021
Another birdie at the par-4 eighth, this one from 30 feet, helped him turn in 7-under 29 – a career low for him on Tour.
Can't stop, won't stop rolling them in. pic.twitter.com/di7D8THdcm
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2021
DeChambeau added three more birdies to his card on the back nine, but missed a 15-footer for birdie at the par-4 15th. He needed to play his final three holes in 3 under to shoot 59.
An eagle at the par-5 16th greatly helped the cause. And not just an eagle, but an eagle set up by an iron from 252 yards in the rough to inside 3 feet.
WOW.@B_DeChambeau eagles the 16th after this approach.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2021
He needs 1 birdie in his final 2 holes for a 59‼️ pic.twitter.com/oP6lafxHDE
Now 12 under on the round, DeChambeau faced what Golf Channel analyst Paul Azinger described as a “sucker pin” at the 186-yard, par-3 17th. DeChambeau was undeterred. Taking dead aim, he knocked it to 17 feet.
He missed the birdie effort, however, and his shot at 59 came down to the 474-yard, par-4 18th. A perfect drive of 333 yards left him 143 yards to the hole.
The approach was perfect as well as he spun a wedge to within 6 feet of the hole.
.@B_DeChambeau is 6 feet, 3 inches away from a 59.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2021
It's all on Golf Channel now. pic.twitter.com/77mv9YAb64
DeChambeau had not missed a putt inside 12 feet all day – this one officially 6 feet, 3 inches – but he missed it on the high side to shoot 60.
.@B_DeChambeau had this putt on No. 18 for a 59.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 27, 2021
Up to this point he was a perfect 16/16 inside 12 1/2 feet. pic.twitter.com/ImyRfSs5AC
DeChambeau said after his round that he misread the putt for 59. But his 60 put him at 16 under par and one shot ahead of a Patrick Cantlay, who shot 63 on Friday.