Bullish Bryson DeChambeau prepares to blaze a trail at the Players Championship

Bryson the Brash has never been the most popular player on the practice range and, clearly, he is not intending to start looking for mates any time soon.

Asked about Sunday’s win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the inimitable Bryson DeChambeau griped about his erratic driving and inconsistent iron play. 

‘So you won with your B game?’ the man from the Golf Channel asked. Back came the delicious response: ‘I’d say more like my C game.’

Bryson DeChambeau turns on the power at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday

Oh, to have been on the range at the Players Championship in Florida when that little gem was relayed to his peers preparing for the PGA Tour’s flagship event, starting on Thursday. 

Perhaps sensing the reaction, DeChambeau retracted a little. 

‘By no means am I trying to cause anything by saying that but from my perspective I just didn’t think I had it all,’ he said. ‘You could see by the way I was practising in the dark on Friday and Saturday I was struggling with my swing.’

So to the fabled Sawgrass, and a tight, tricky layout that does not offer much advantage to the big hitters. Not playing it conventionally, anyway. DeChambeau set out yesterday to see if there is another way. 

After his heroics at the par-five sixth at Bay Hill, could he try something at the daunting par-four 18th, where there are trees on the right, water down the left and little fairway to aim for when you are blasting it 350 yards? 

The 27-year-old is considering driving left to the ninth fairway then back over the water. Just one problem. ‘I’ll give it a try in practice but with grandstands on the left then most likely it is not going to happen,’ he said.

What, not play over them? If only he had his A game.

• Danny Willett has pulled out of Sawgrass with Covid-19.