427-Yard U.S. Open Bomb
Bryson DeChambeau's 427-Yard Drive Highlights Strong U.S. Open Start at Shinnecock Hills
Key Points
DeChambeau’s 427-yard bomb didn’t just set up a birdie—per shot-by-shot detail, after driving on the 472-yard hole, he faced “only 45 yards remaining,” then “stuck his second shot to about 1.8 meters from the hole and easily made his first birdie.”
NBC Sports’ pre-round context highlights the extent of DeChambeau’s unusual preparation and process, describing how he “floats his ball in salt water before rounds to check for imbalances.”
The EuropeSays report notes the 427-yard drive narrowly missed a personal standard: it “narrowly missed out on becoming DeChambeau’s longest-ever drive by just one yard,” with a prior 428-yard drive recorded at the Travelers Championship in 2020.
Multiple reports emphasized that conditions at Shinnecock Hills were a major factor, including wind: ClutchPoints writes that “the wind at Shinnecock Hills was playing havoc throughout the opening round of golf.”
DeChambeau’s U.S. Open history adds context to what he’s chasing: he’s a “two-time U.S. Open champion,” having won in “2020 and 2024,” but “missed the cut last year,” and also failed to advance at “this year’s Masters and PGA Championship.”
Bryson DeChambeau launched a 427-yard drive at the 2026 U.S. Open on Thursday, sending his ball bouncing across Tuckahoe Road before setting up a birdie on the par-4 12th hole at Shinnecock Hills. The bomb was the longest drive of the day and left him just 45 yards from the pin on a 472-yard hole, according to NBC Sports.
DeChambeau stood at 1-under through 16 holes when darkness suspended play Thursday evening. Wyndham Clark led the field at 6-under, while Scottie Scheffler sat at 2-over and Rory McIlroy was also at 1-under as the first round remained incomplete.
One Yard Short of a Career Record Drive
The 427-yard blast nearly made history. It missed DeChambeau's personal best by just one yard — he hit a 428-yard drive at the 2020 Travelers Championship, NBC Sports noted. DeChambeau called the new drive his longest "ever on tour," apparently unaware of his own record in the moment.
After the drive crossed the road, DeChambeau stuck his approach to 1.8 meters from the hole and calmly made the putt for birdie, EuropeSays reported. The drive was also the second-longest by anyone on tour this season, behind only Clark's 446-yard blast at the Valspar Championship in March, according to NBC Sports.
New TaylorMade Prototype Powers the Big Hit
DeChambeau used a new TaylorMade prototype driver for the shot. The club recently cleared the USGA's conforming list, meaning it is officially legal for tournament play, according to Ontap Sports Net. DeChambeau was testing the equipment in competition for the first time.
DeChambeau's preparation goes well beyond equipment. NBC Sports reported that he floats his golf balls in salt water before rounds to check for weight imbalances. The goal is to make sure the ball rolls as true as possible — a detail that speaks to his obsessive, science-driven approach to the game.
Wind Chaos Makes Shinnecock Even Harder Than Usual
Conditions at Shinnecock Hills made the course brutal on Thursday. ClutchPoints wrote that "the wind at Shinnecock Hills was playing havoc throughout the opening round." Most players struggled badly, with Scheffler — the world No. 1 — ending the day at 2-over despite his elite ball-striking.
Clark's 6-under score stood far ahead of the rest of the field. The wide gap showed how few players could handle both the wind and the tight Shinnecock layout. DeChambeau's 1-under, though modest, looked solid given how hard the course played for the majority of the field.
DeChambeau Seeks Redemption After a Rough 2026 Spring
DeChambeau entered the week under pressure. He is a two-time U.S. Open champion, having won in 2020 at Winged Foot and in 2024 at Pinehurst No. 2. But he missed the cut at last year's U.S. Open and then failed to make the weekend at both the 2026 Masters and the 2026 PGA Championship, EuropeSays reported.
A strong finish to Round 1 would mark a real turnaround. He trailed Clark by five shots through 16 holes, but with two holes still to play when darkness hit, there was still room to close the gap. The 427-yard drive gave the golf world a reminder that DeChambeau, at his best, can do things no one else can.
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