"Hulk" DeChambeau's Incredible Power: "Have You Seen 12 Under Par in a Day?"... Im Sungjae Scores 7 Under Par

'PO Round 2' BMW Championship Day 2: 2 Eagles + 8 Birdies Propel to 1-Stroke Lead, Rahm and Cantlay Tied for 2nd

‘Hulk’ Bryson DeChambeau is teeing off on the 2nd hole during the second day of the PO 2nd round BMW Championship. Owings Mills, USA=Getty Images/Multibits Photo by Multibits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] ‘12-under 60 strokes’.

This is the power of ‘The Hulk’ Bryson DeChambeau (USA). On the 28th (Korean time) at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland, USA (par 72, 7,542 yards), during the second day of the PGA Tour ‘PO 2nd round’ BMW Championship (total prize money $9.5 million), he shot an incredible 12-under par to rise to the top with a one-stroke lead (16-under 128 strokes). While some players’ matches were postponed, world No. 1 Jon Rahm (Spain) and Patrick Cantlay (USA) are in a chase at joint 2nd place (15-under).

DeChambeau collected 2 eagles and 8 birdies. After consecutive birdies on holes 1 and 2, he energized the course with an eagle on the 4th hole (par 5) with a ‘2-on 1-putt’ and a birdie on the 5th hole (par 4). He reduced 7 strokes in the front nine, including consecutive birdies on holes 7 and 8. In the back nine, he also had consecutive birdies on holes 11 and 12, a birdie on the 14th hole (par 4), and a second ‘2-on 1-putt’ eagle on the 16th hole (par 5). It was rather disappointing that his 2-meter putt on the final 18th hole (par 4) missed, preventing the ‘dream 59 strokes’.

His long drives reached up to 349 yards, and his pinpoint iron shots missed the green only twice. Along with this, he averaged 1.44 putts per hole, showing excellent ‘stingy putting’. For DeChambeau, this is a great opportunity to reach his third victory, including the US Open last September (counted in the 2021 season) and the Arnold Palmer Invitational last March. It is noteworthy that winning this tournament would immediately secure him the ‘PO ranking No. 1’. This means his chances of winning the ‘final 3rd round’ Tour Championship increase.

The PGA Tour introduced a new ‘PO system’ in 2019, applying differential ‘stroke bonuses’: 1st place starts at 10-under, 2nd at 8-under, 3rd at 7-under, 4th at 6-under, 5th at 5-under, 6th to 10th at 4-under, 11th to 15th at 3-under, 16th to 20th at 2-under, 21st to 25th at 1-under, and 26th to 30th at even par. Naturally, the higher the seed, the more advantageous. Rahm is a player to watch. He is 7-under through 15 holes, with 21 holes remaining on the final day.

Im Sung-jae is teeing off at the 2nd hole on the second day of the PO 2nd round BMW Championship. Owings Mills, USA = Getty Images / Photo by Multibits

Korea’s Im Sung-jae (23, CJ Logistics) has entered the ‘winning contention’. With 8 birdies and 1 bogey, he is 7-under par, tied for 4th place (12-under 132 strokes). With his current ranking, he has moved up to 14th in the PO rankings, making it likely he will advance to the ‘final 3rd round’ where only 30 players compete. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) is tied for 8th (10-under 134 strokes), and ‘Tokyo Olympics Gold Medalist’ Xander Schauffele (USA) is tied for 10th (9-under 135 strokes). Lee Kyung-hoon (30) is tied for 23rd (6-under 138 strokes), and Kim Si-woo (26, CJ Logistics) remains tied for 67th (2-over par).

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