For golf’s “disrupter,” Bryson DeChambeau, and his fans, the 2024 U.S. Open win was unique in more than one way. Not only did the LIV golfer exorcise his demons of falling one stroke behind Xander Schauffele at the PGA Championship, but he also defeated Rory McIlroy by one stroke at Pinehurst. After the win, he delivered on his victor’s promise and let his fans touch the trophy, taking it around to the large crowd at the 18th green. Golf fans, often devoid of such interactions, eat these moments up. And that wildness is perhaps what the other majors need, at least according to a former PGA Tour pro.

Colt Knost recently sat down for a much-needed interview on 5 Clubs with Gary Williams, where he shared his opinions on Bryson DeChambeau, the golf world, and more. When discussing a (potential) high-stakes situation involving a Sunday match between DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy, and Scottie Scheffler, Knost replied, “Well, please have that happen for us! I mean, I want to be out there walking with them because I was with his group at Valhalla last year, and that place was wild. They were on his side; it was wild out there. I remember the eight-iron he hit from 222 yards on the 16th hole to about a foot and a half after he hit the trees.”

Continuing on DeChambeau’s personality and his habit of bringing life to every course, Knost added, “Bryson is an entertainer; he’s great for the game of golf. As I think you and I were talking about, he’s a bit of a disruptor, and I know he wants revenge for what happened at Augusta. He had it all set up perfectly to be in that final pairing with Rory McIlroy. It was everything we could ask for at the Masters, and I hope we see it again this time.” At Augusta this year, Bryson finished the moving day tied in second with Rors. The two were then paired together for the final day, a pairing the world was looking forward to. Bryson ended up choking on the final day and carded 3 over for the day. As a result, he finished at T5. The two didn’t interact on the course all day, and LIV golfer even mentioned it after finishing his 18 rounds on Sunday.

Why exactly that term, though? Well, people often call the Californian a “disruptor” in golf because of his unconventional approach to the sport, which includes his unique equipment and training methods. His irons are all 37½ inches long, the same length as a standard six iron, and they have 72-degree lie angles, making them 10 degrees more upright than usual. To maintain a consistent swing weight, he ensures that all the heads weigh 278 grams.

However, this isn’t the first time Knost has hyped up the golfer. Before the Masters, Knost shared a story about DeChambeau. The night before the tournament, DeChambeau spent about an hour practicing on a putting green in a random backyard, not affiliated with Augusta National. While walking in the neighborhood where he was renting a house after the third round, he spotted a group with a putting green and decided to stop and practice. The point? He is charming through and through, so much so that maybe the weather will work in his favor at the PGA Championship as well!

Bryson DeChambeau may already have an advantage at the PGA Championship

Just as Colt Knost pointed out at 5 Clubs, “You have to bomb it, especially with the weather we’re having today leading into the next couple of days. It’s going to be soft at least for the first few days. Length is such a big factor at Quail Hollow,” the weather may actually work in Bryson DeChambeau’s favor.

The famous golf course in North Carolina, known for favoring big hitters, received heavy rain in Charlotte on Monday, which made the ground softer. This softening of Quail Hollow’s long par-71, 7,623-yard layout is likely to benefit strong drivers like Bryson DeChambeau. With the fairways softer, the ball won’t roll as far, making it harder for players who don’t hit the ball as far. DeChambeau, who holds the title of the longest driver in LIV Golf with an average of 333.3 yards, is definitely not one of the shorter hitters.

The Californian’s driving stats were pretty great at the 2024 PGA Championship as well, although the major was held at Valhalla. Before Sunday’s play started, the LIV golfer was averaging 332.4 yards per drive, with his longest drive reaching 360 yards. However, this power seemed to have affected his accuracy, as DeChambeau hit the fairway less than 60% of the time (59.52%). Still, he probably didn’t mind, as his position on the leaderboard showed that being further down the hole, even if it means missing the target, could still be advantageous. He finished second in 2024 and is likely to do even better this year.