• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, September 16, 2025

How Bryson DeChambeau Could Deliver Masters Moment For Ages

  • CBS Sports’ Nick Faldo, Dottie Pepper answer whether DeChambeau could drive 445-yard, 1st hole.
  • Faldo promises to ‘run naked’ around Augusta National if DeChambeau reaches green with drive.
bryce dechambeau
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

It would be one of the great Masters Tournament television moments of all time: What if Bryson DeChambeau drives the Par 4, 1st hole at Augusta National Golf Club this week?

Jack Nicklaus, who won six Masters, recently speculated the hulking U.S. Open champion could do the unthinkable and reach the green with his tee shot on the the 445-yard 1st hole. 

Such a highlight would rank up there with all-time Masters TV clips like defending champion Tiger Woods chipping in at No. 16 in 2005, Phil Mickelson sinking the winning birdie on No. 18 in 2004, or Nicklaus’ back-nine charge in 1986. 

DeChambeau leads the PGA Tour in driving distance this year with a 344.4-yard average. He’s been known to hit the ball over 400 yards in practice. In September, the 27-year-old star overpowered Winged Foot to win the U.S. Open by six shots.

During a CBS Sports conference call previewing its coverage of the 2020 Masters, which runs from Nov. 12-15, Front Office Sports asked lead analyst Sir Nick Faldo and analyst Dottie Pepper if DeChambeau could drive the 1st hole.

Faldo, who won three green jackets, thought no. 

“When he does, I will leap out of my [broadcast] tower and run around naked around Augusta National,” Faldo promised. 

The intimidating dogleg right — quaintly named “Tea Olive” — plays uphill, Faldo said. He expects DeChambeau to bomb a roughly 360-yard drive, then lob a wedge on his second shot vs a driver, 5-iron approach shot in his own heyday.

“At 445 [yards], he might luck out with a bit of an easterly wind. It might be helping. But he will not be driving the 1st,” Faldo added. “It’s too far, too long. It’s the first tee shot. He’ll be nervous. He’ll neck it — like we all did.”

But Pepper, who won two majors and 17 championships of her own on the LPGA tour, noted a warmed-up DeChambeau could actually be playing his 10th hole due to the tournament’s split-tee format.

Still, the forecast calls for rain later this week, she said. “With the prevailing winds, the golf course is inevitably going to be softer. With the forecast, I don’t see that happening.”

On Wednesday, Faldo tweeted he saw DeChambeau at Augusta and trying to talk him into hitting 3-wood on No. 1. “He then said, ‘if it’s dry and running it’s definitely doable.'”

Leave it to Jim Nantz, who’ll host his 33rd Masters for CBS, to have the last word. Nantz suggested coordinating producer Lance Barrow set up a special camera. Just in case.  

“Maybe we just might want to have one close by the 18th tower,” Nantz said.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, CBS will move up its final-round coverage from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET to sidestep a conflict with its NFL game window at 4:05 p.m.

Conversely, CBS’ third-round coverage on Saturday, Nov. 15 will air from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. CBS will also air highlights of early-round play on Nov. 12-13.

tiger woods

How Masters, CBS Will Avoid Sunday Conflict With NFL

CBS Sports will move up Sunday final round coverage of the 2020…
October 29, 2020

Nantz will work his 35th Masters for the network. CBS is airing the Masters for the 65th consecutive year, making it the longest-running sporting event broadcast by one network.

Meanwhile, ESPN will telecast its “College GameDay” pregame show from Augusta National for the first time on Nov. 14. In its 13th year of Masters coverage, ESPN will show first and second-round play on Nov. 12-13.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Injured Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on from the bench during the first half of a basketball game against the Chicago Sky at United Center.

WNBA Ratings Rise 3% in 2025 Despite Clark’s Absence

Caitlin Clark played in just 13 of 44 regular-season games.
Las Vegas Aces

WNBA Playoffs Face ESPN Fall Crunch For Final Time

The games will be spread across three networks next year.

FanDuel, Jaguars Reach $5M Deal Over Employee Theft

A Jaguars employee stole $20 million and gambled much of it with FanDuel.
opinion

19 Rising Stars in Sports Media

Who are sports media’s rising stars? Here’s an inside look.

Featured Today

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 19: A detailed view of the MLB Debut patch on the jersey of Patrick Monteverde #44 of the Miami Marlins prior to game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on April 19, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Tiny Jersey Patch at the Center of the MLB Rookie Card..

Autographed cards containing a piece of baseball history have upended the market.
September 11, 2025

Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl Rematch Could Set More NFL Ratings Records

Fox will nationally televise Sunday afternoon’s matchup.
September 10, 2025

ESPN’s ‘MNF’ Ratings Up 8% As NFL Surges to Strong Start

ESPN posts its second-best Week 1 “Monday Night Football” audience.
Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills fans react during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium.
September 9, 2025

As Bills Ascend, Their Next Frontier Lies in Canada

Buffalo and the powerful Canadian entity MLSE come together in a new pact.
Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown (85) on Thursday, September 11, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won the game, 27-18.

Amazon Shatters Previous Ratings High for 1st NFL Game

“TNF” viewership surges 35% compared to the 2024 season average.
Ohio State Buckeyes linebacker Arvell Reese (8) pursues Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium on Aug. 30, 2025.
September 12, 2025

College Football Enters Week 3 Up 21% in TV Ratings

Total college football viewership across all networks is up big.
September 15, 2025

Chiefs’ Fall to 0–2 Dims the Spotlight on NFL’s Top TV Draw

The NFL’s most-watched team sinks to a new low since Patrick Mahomes arrived.
Sponsored

How World Series Champ Dexter Fowler Became a Premier League Team Owner

Dexter Fowler discusses navigating retirement and embracing new roles as an owner & investor.
Sep 6, 2025; Boulder, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports camera station before the game between the Delaware Fightin Blue Hens against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field.
September 11, 2025

Lachlan Murdoch on Fox’s Sports Strategy, FanDuel Plans

The executive calls a forthcoming streaming bundle with ESPN “essential” for fans.
September 5, 2025

NFL’s Expected Early-Season Ratings Boost Gets Off to a Stormy Start

The kickoff game somewhat resembles the delays last year in an SNF game.
September 4, 2025

TNT Sports to Try Its Own Streaming App After WBD Split

TNT Sports will have its own app as a corporate split approaches.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

The Death of Streameast Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mirror sites began popping up Thursday, the day the NFL season begins.