Bryson DeChambeau gives his critics more ammo at WGC-St. Jude

Bryson DeChambeau’s back-nine blowup on Sunday at WGC-FedEx St. Jude will only intensify the controversy surrounding him.

Nothing in sports helps silence critics more than winning. Bryson DeChambeau nearly found that out on Sunday in Memphis but, in a flash, ensured that they’ll be louder than ever.

DeChambeau found himself the target of controversy even before hitting a shot this week at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. After being forced to pull out of the Olympics following a positive COVID-19 test, he admitted that he hasn’t been vaccinated and has no regrets; “The Scientist” of the PGA Tour was going to trust his own instincts on this one. His fellow players began calling him out on social media for not yelling “fore” on errant tee shots and suggested it was time for the tour to step in and levy some penalties for that behavior.

But, for three rounds at TPC Southwind, it didn’t seem to be bothering him on the course. With a chip-in for birdie on the fifth hole Sunday, he tied Harris English for the lead. He was obliterating his drives, hitting solid iron shots and putting beautifully. The win, his first since March, was well within reach. Then, in a brutal stretch that will only intensify the noise and distractions that constantly surround him, it was gone.

The blowup began at the sixth hole, when DeChambeau’s drive went so far to the right that PGA Tour official Ken Tackett had to take out a piece of string to determine if the ball had stayed inbounds. His drive on the 10th hole went into the water hazard that is normally out of play for almost every player; no one had hit a ball there in five years. His tee shot on the par-three 11th flew over the green, skipped off the embankment and splashed into another hazard, leading to a triple bogey.

DeChambeau missed a four-footer on the 18th for another bogey, playing his final nine holes in six-over 41. He had been 11-under on that stretch of holes the first three rounds with just one bogey. He finished tied for eighth at 12-under, four shots behind.

Fans continue to heckle DeChambeau at every opportunity

Every golfer endures similar struggles. It’s how they deal with it that defines who they are as a player. English had his own misfortune on the back-nine, finishing a shot out of a playoff. He stayed behind and spoke with the media. DeChambeau, as he had all week after explaining his controversial stance on the vaccines, didn’t show up for his post-round press conference. It was left to English, his playing partner, to speak up and defend him from all the taunts he took relating to his feud with Brooks Koepka and everything else.

“Yeah, it’s not real fair for them to call him ‘Brooksy’ a lot. It kind of sucks and obviously he hears it and it affects him a little bit and he doesn’t like it and I think that causes them to do it more,” English said. “It just sucks that that’s out here right now, that they’re trying to irk people like that. It’s just unfortunate.”

Abraham Ancer, in his 121th PGA Tour start, defeated Hideki Matsuyama and Sam Burns on the second playoff hole to earn his first victory. He and Matsuyama flew more than 6,000 miles after playing in the Olympics in Tokyo last week to be here. He’s just the fourth player from his native Mexico to win on the PGA Tour.

But, as he has nearly all year, DeChambeau overshadows everything. He makes himself an easy target, both to cheer on or to passionately root against. He’s either revolutionizing the game with his length or ruining it. He’s either an interesting personality or boorish and entitled. There is little middle ground when it comes to DeChambeau.

He had a chance to prove his doubters wrong on Sunday, to show that they don’t bother him and what he’s doing works. Instead, he only added fuel to the fire that will now continue to rage into the FedEx Cup playoffs and the Ryder Cup.

The last few months haven’t been easy for DeChambeau. It’s about to get worse.