Cobra rep — who caddied for Bryson DeChambeau two weeks ago — responds to harsh comments at The Open
By T.J. Auclair · July 15, 2021
When it comes to Bryson DeChambeau, there’s rarely a dull moment.
The 2020 U.S. Open champion made headlines at the Open Championship on Thursday, but it wasn’t because of his play, or because of Brooks Koepka.
It was what he had to say about his equipment company — Cobra — following a 1-over 71 that had him seven shots off the lead at Royal St. George’s.
“If I can hit it down the middle of the fairway, that’s great, but with the driver right now, the driver sucks,” DeChambeau said. “It’s not a good face for me, and we’re still trying to figure out how to make it good on the mis-hits. I’m living on the razor’s edge, like I’ve told people for a long time.”
RELATED: Tour caddies react to news of caddie Tim Tucker, Bryson DeChambeau parting ways
It’s rare — almost unheard of — for a player to publicly call out their respective club manufacturer.
Cobra responded swiftly.
Cobra’s tour operations manager Ben Schomin — the same man who stepped in to caddie for DeChambeau two weeks ago when he and longtime caddie Tim Tucker parted ways the night before the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit — spoke to Golfweek’s David Dusek and was less than thrilled with DeChambeau’s criticism.
“Everybody is bending over backwards. We’ve got multiple guys in R&D who are CAD’ing (computer-aided design) this and CAD-ing that, trying to get this and that into the pipeline faster. (Bryson) knows it,” Schomin, who is one of the people who designs and builds DeChambeau’s clubs, told Dusek. “It’s just really, really painful when he says something that stupid.”
According to Dusek, DeChambeau is currently using a Cobra Radspeed driver that is 46 inches long and has 5 degrees of loft specifically for DeChambeau.
“He has never really been happy, ever. Like, it’s very rare where he’s happy,” Schomin continued. “Now he’s in a place where he’s swinging a 5-degree driver with 200 mph of ball speed. Everybody is looking for a magic bullet. Well, the magic bullet becomes harder and harder to find the faster you swing and the lower your loft gets.”
Schomin believes DeChambeau’s words came out harsher than the world No. 6 may have intended.
“It’s like an 8-year-old that gets mad at you,” Schomin said. “They might fly off the handle and say, ‘I hate you.’ But then you go. ‘Whoa, no you don’t.’
“We know as adults that they really don’t mean that and I know that if I got him cornered right now and said, ‘What the hell did you say that for,’ he would say that he was mad. He didn’t really mean to say it that harshly. He knows how much everyone bends over backwards for him, but it’s still not cool.”
UPDATE — Hours after DeChambeau’s post-round interview went viral, he posted the following statement to his Instagram account:
View this post on Instagram
He needs to grow up. Own his erratic swing and improve.
Will Bryson ever grow up and remove the quiver of silver spoons out of his backside area and become a respectable man…. DOUBTFUL AT BEST.
Bryson needs to get his head out of his a**, and really start playing golf and stop this unrealistic search for more speed. He spends more time in the weeds than I do, and I’m a 20+ handicap. He used to be a promising champion, but now, not so much. He needs to learn how to focus his strength on how to “KEEP THE BALL IN THE FAIRWAY”! The Open is a difficult track as it is, and mishits repeatedly will add strokes to your score. And if Cobra is willing to go along with this folly, than there just as much at fault for the monster they are helping to create on this quest. STOP with the distance, and focus on accuracy! Your game will appreciate it!!
For a 20 handicapper, you provide much wisdom, Master.
Grasshopper
Excellent, Dennis.. very well thought out..👌you wouldn’t see Arnie, Jack, Gary or Lee crying like that..ever! God Bless…
Its not how its how many
If there is too many change the how
I think he has “damaged his brand”
Stupid is as stupid dose
Be humble BD
Bryson’s problem is he is striving for perfection in a game were perfection doesn’t exist. The Cobra rep didn’t hold back and is exactly right. Your swing speed is 200 mph and you have a 5° loft driver and you expect miss hits to go down the middle?
I can’t tolerate Bryson. He comes across like he is the best and smartest golfer in the game today. He is nothing more than a want a be cry baby. Grow up.
I met Bryson. Was great when I met him, to me and others with me. But for God’s sake Bryson, just line it up, hit it as best you can and putt like a Mother-Fu*ker. U r so talented, just do the above and be quiet. Good Luck.
Glad the rep said it how it is right away. So often companies are forced to bend over for clients and it’s not right. They spend 100s of hours working with him on his various ideas and then he does that. I appreciate his work ethic and commitment but he needs to get control of his mouth. It’s not fun nor entertaining listening to him.
A real man “Knows his limitations”.
“perfection in a game where perfection doesn’t exist.”.
Spot on! Love it.
Bryson, cry me a river and get a soother.
All athletes these days are nor worth watching!! They all are over paid whining little baby’s!! Money and privilege has turned them all into unrelatable idiots!!
He needs to concentrate on being a golfer not the long drive champion. And, be humble to which you are allowed and privileged to make the money you make. . . .
Bryson needs a good hard kick up the arse. Look at Rory Mcllroy he tried the Bryson way and has ruined his game as well but he is a real man. He says it is searching to be longer thats ruined his swing but he does not trash or disgrace his sponsors by blaming them.all. Credit Rory good luck…Bryson you should rawl back into your arse but come out when you grow up.
I worked the Practice Facility at the 2016 RBC Canadian Open and would see Bryson and his team working after his rounds (he failed to make the cut BTW) as he banged ball after ball out into the setting sun.
Admirable you’d think but with every resulting shot Bryson would turn and bark at someone as if they were the one hitting the ball – he displayed a 22-year old immaturity at the time, something that you would write off to his age and quest to succeed.
Fast forward 5 years and it’s the same thing. He has plenty of talent, lots of support from a team that might not ‘feel the love’, and plenty of pent-up anger that still poisons his potential.
The game is bigger than any one individual – Bryson should realize that he’s not carrying the game, the game is carrying him. Chill brother, respect the game and all of us playing it!!