Kevin Na: ‘I’ve waited a long time for this’

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OVERVIEW Love him or not, Bryson DeChambeau is here to stay in a big way. Sure, the eccentricities of this now five-time PGA TOUR winner might get under the skin of a few but it also invigorates and inspires others. You don’t have to agree with single-length shafts, or brain training, or taking every variable like barometric pressure into each yardage calculation … but you do have to agree it works for DeChambeau. It was an incredible 2018 for the former U.S. Amateur champion. First he won at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide under the glare of Jack Nicklaus. Then he stepped up big time in the FedExCup Playoffs, winning the opening two starts at THE NORTHERN TRUST and the Dell Technologies Championship. He would parlay it into a third-place finish in the FedExCup. Keen to show it was no flash in the pan, DeChambeau stepped out in his only fall appearance at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and promptly won that, ensuring he starts 2019 nice and high on the FedExCup list once more. If there is a part of his game he could improve to take things to an even higher level, it is his putting. Perhaps the new rules in golf – where you can leave the flagstick in – might be the catalyst. DeChambeau has already signaled his intentions to leave the flag in on occasion as his research indicates it will help him. He was 32nd in Strokes Gained: Putting last season so any improvement on that metric will make him very tough to beat. His performance out of the sand is another weakness he has zeroed in on. At 109th in sand saves last season and 135th the season before, some extra time on the beach is in his practice future. We expect plenty more headlines around this guy in 2019. — By Ben Everill Click here to see who else made the Top 30 list. BY THE NUMBERS FEDEXCUP UPDATE Current 2018-19 position: 8th Playoff appearances: 2 TOUR Championship appearances: 2 Best result: 3rd in the 2017-18 season SHOTLINK FUN FACT Bryson DeChambeau shot four rounds of 66 or better to win the 2018 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open — the first time he has shot 66 or better in every round at a PGA TOUR event. INSIDER INSIGHTS PGATOUR.COM’s Insiders offer their expert views on what to expect from Bryson DeChambeau in 2019. TOUR INSIDER: A little outspoken? Sure. A lot unconventional? Absolutely. Frankly, DeChambeau is a breath of fresh air for golf where sometimes we get lost in the pursuit of monotony. Innovators are often deemed crazy in the beginning before being truly appreciated at a later date. Sports are sold on characters; with Bryson, it’s just time to enjoy the ride. — By Ben Everill FANTASY INSIDER: Easily the most polarizing relative newcomer to the PGA TOUR, he reminds gamers who resist accepting his out-of-the-box thinking that this is a results-based business. He’s merely a variation of the “swing your swing” mantra. He’s handed us four wins in his last 13 starts alone, so that’s more than sufficient for all. Meanwhile, for those of us who can’t get enough of his methods and madness, he’s taken us on a ride of a lifetime because of the repeat successes. The experiments are working. And entirely fact over friction, he’ll probably throttle back into a season totaling 23-25 starts. — By Rob Bolton EQUIPMENT INSIDER: Did you hear Bryson plays with irons that are all the same length, loft and lie angle? Yes, you did. He plays with Cobra King One-length irons (Utility 4-5 irons, and standard 6-PW), a King V Grind wedge (50 degrees) and King WideLow grind wedges (55 and 60 degrees) that all have True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shafts in them that measure 37.5 inches. In other Bryson news, however, he won the Shriners using the new King F9 Speedback driver (7 degrees) for the first time in competition. As a partner with LA Golf Shafts, he’s also helped design his own putter shaft, which he uses in a SIK tour proto head. It will be interesting to see whether he collaborates with LA Golf Shafts on shafts aside from just the putter. — By Andrew Tursky STYLE INSIDER: At a time when so many players dress alike, DeChambeau has succeeded in carving out a unique look for himself. He blends old school and new school pieces by combining the vintage Hogan cap with modern high-tech threads. Bryson began working in custom shoes in 2018. Expect him to find more opportunities to show off one-of-a-kind kicks in 2019. — By Greg Monteforte

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