Bryson DeChambeau teases big changes as he looks for victory at LIV Adelaide

Bryson DeChambeau it feels different, and that’s a good thing.

The two-time major champion is coming off a season in which he won just one LIV event and didn’t take home a major title. But he will enter on Sunday in LIFE Golf Adelaide is tied atop the leaderboard with Jon Rahm, with his game feeling better than it has in years at this early stage of the season.

“I’m seeing things that I haven’t seen at the beginning of a year in the last four or five years,” DeChambeau said after Friday’s round. “I’m seeing some great lines and feeling comfortable on shots, some testers, comfortable on wedge shots and comfortable on shots that are really hard. To feel good early in the season is a great sign.”

This new feeling is the result of an offseason speed training regimen that he started earlier than last year. That change makes DeChambeau feel like his club speed is where it needs to be, even though his approach game is lagging.

“A lot of offseason work,” DeChambeau said when asked where his confidence in his game comes from. “I started earlier this year. I started speed training in November, so I kind of got that out of my system. Last year, I was preparing and doing some speed training in January. It delayed my speed until the middle of the year and cost me a few months, so I changed it this year, and some nice changes were implemented, and I feel very fast. Almost too fast in a sense, sometimes I don’t play with the iron.”

DeChambeau also explained how his offseason training included working with him Sportsbox AI. This AI-powered golf training tool takes video on your phone and turns it into a 3D swing model with biomechanical measurements. DeChambeau is an ambassador for the company.

“I think that just comes from training a little earlier and meeting with my trainer Dana, and working a lot with Sportsbox a lot,” DeChambeau said. “It’s been fun working with Sportsbox. We’re about to unveil something pretty special with AI, so I’m excited about that. It’s going to be incredibly helpful in times of need to be even more specific than almost any coach out there.”

But as he often does – be the one with a new ballclub or offensive scheme – DeChambeau hinted at a big change on the horizon – one that will help his approach to play with the main season just around the corner.

“I have something coming up that I can’t wait to have,” DeChambeau said. “Hopefully I’ll have it for Hong Kong and that three-week period, and it’ll be something that improves my iron game and wedges a lot. We’ll see. You never know.”

While the 32-year-old waits for his mystery help, he has 18 holes left at The Grange in Adelaide to try and overtake Rahm. DeChambeau has been critical of the Saudi-backed league change from 54 to 72 holes. That change, however, means DeChambeau will have 18 more holes to distance himself from Rahm instead of going into a playoff Saturday after Rahm birdied the final hole to tie him at 19 under.

Which means, for now, DeChambeau is fine with the transition.

“Of course I’m glad there’s going to be 18 more tomorrow,” DeChambeau said. “But it’s tough to go another round. But we’ve done it our whole career, and we’re used to it and we’re pretty happy with it. I think we’re parting ways now. You never know, somebody could go too deep tomorrow. But I think we’re both playing great golf right now and giving the fans what they want, and that’s what it’s all about.”

On Sunday, LIV’s two biggest stars will go head-to-head for a trophy and the official World Golf Ranking points that come with it. And then, we’ll wait for DeChambeau’s big reveal.