Cirque du Bryson Arrives In Ponte Vedra: Internal OB Added In The "Interest Of Safety"

TPC Sawgrass’ 18th hole without tournament tents (Google Earth)

All Bryson DeChambeau did was mention he might consider driving left of TPC Sawgrass’ 18th hole lake after Sunday’s Arnold Palmer Invitational win. And Tuesday the PGA Tour was putting up internal OB stakes to discourage the play in the “interest of safety, volunteers and other personnel.”

From Bob Harig’s ESPN.com report:

Bryson DeChambeau was not cited, but the rule was clearly put in place after the winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday talked about trying to drive his tee shot over the lake on the 18th hole for what he said would be an easier shot to the par-4 green.

"I have thought about sometimes on 18 going left into 9," DeChambeau said after his victory Sunday. "We'll see, with the stands and everything, if it's even worth it ... it just gives you a better shot into the green, personally, where you can just hit it a little long and you're always going to be OK.”

The official statement from the Tour:

Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis reported this nugget later on:

Before the announcement of internal out of bounds on 18 at @THEPLAYERSChamp Gary Young who is the VP of rules & competition for the @PGATOUR spoke personally with @b_dechambeau about their decision and according to Young Bryson was fine with it.

— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) March 10, 2021

I think it’s well established that no single chintzier setup element exists than internal out of bounds. It goes against everything that made people start whapping wobbly balls around a cross-country path before indoor plumbing and floss.

Naturally, the safety notion is absurd given that you stand a much better chance of getting hit by a 325 yard incoming Titleist while minding your own business than in that area at TPC Sawgrass.

But this adds to the Bryson legend and hopefully highlights the distance issue in a way that hits home. At the Global Home.