Bryson DeChambeau, renowned for his powerhouse drives on the golf course, is facing fierce competition as former PGA Tour player Peter Uihlein outstrips him in driving average on the LIV Golf League. DeChambeau, who often launches drives well over the 350-yard mark, is currently ranking ninth in the league, averaging 302 yards per drive.
DeChambeau, a LIV Golf star, has been known for his audacious strategies and an almost fanatic obsession with distance. This was evident during the 2020/21 PGA Tour season and particularly during the 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational. His daring attempt to reach the green on the par-five sixth, which involved a risky carry over a vast water hazard, was seen by many as an impossible feat.
This unconventional approach was further highlighted during the 2021 US Open at Winged Foot. DeChambeau’s aggressive ‘bomb and gauge’ tactics left even the world’s top players perplexed. Fellow golfer Rory McIlroy expressed his confusion, stating that DeChambeau’s play style was contrary to what he’d think a U.S. Open champion would adopt.
In an effort to maximize his speed, DeChambeau had significantly bulked up his muscle mass. However, in a 2023 interview, he confessed that this weight gain was a mistake. Now back to his natural size, DeChambeau remains one of golf’s leading hitters.
Yet, the current driving average leaderboard of the LIV Golf League tells a different story. DeChambeau sits in ninth place, trailing behind Chilean Joaquin Niemann (304 yards), Dean Burmester, Cameron Smith (306 yards), Caleb Surratt, Lucas Herbert, David Puig and Tom McKibbin (311 yards).
Peter Uihlein, a former PGA Tour player, stands out as the uncontested leader. With an impressive average of 324 yards off the tee, Uihlein’s prowess rivals some of the greatest hitters in golf history.
Meanwhile, on the PGA Tour, Aldrich Potgieter of South Africa is the top hitter, averaging 328 yards per drive, a mere two yards more than Rory McIlroy. Niklas Norgaard and Tim Wilding follow closely, while Australian star Min Woo Lee and PGA Tour rookie Karl Vilips also feature in the top ten.
Interestingly, Brian Campbell holds the title for the shortest hitter on the Tour, averaging 276 yards, a full 52 yards less than Potgieter. Notably, two-time major winner Collin Morikawa also finds himself towards the bottom of the list, clocking 292 yards with his driver.
DeChambeau’s reign as one of golf’s longest hitters is being challenged. The question remains whether he will adapt his strategy in the face of this new competition. His past penchant for pushing boundaries suggests that we may be in for some interesting developments on the fairway.
