(CBSDFW.COM) — Bryson DeChambeau returned from the PGA Tour’s coronavirus hiatus 20 kilos heavier. The distinction was noticeable as he walked the course at Colonial. The additional muscle additionally confirmed itself off the tee, the place the 240-pound ex-SMU Mustang led the Charles Schwab Problem discipline in driving.

>>STREAM: RBC Heritage

To be exact, DeChambeau dominated the sphere in driving, gaining over seven strokes off the tee. Xander Schauffele, the runner-up within the class, picked up just below 5 strokes, and 7 different gamers had been inside two strokes of him. DeChambeau additionally led in common size (340.four yards) and hit virtually 59 p.c of greens in regulation.

After 5 PGA Tour occasions this yr, DeChambeau is on tempo to interrupt the single-season document for common driving distance. (Hank Kuehne set it at 321.four yards in 2003.) The primary 4 of his 2020 tournaments occurred earlier than he added bulk, and the fifth was held on a course that doesn’t enable a participant to actually unleash his driver.

“He has sufficient confidence with the lengthy sport to go forward and hit driver in locations that different gamers don’t,” famous CBS Sports activities on-course reporter Dottie Pepper. “I’m significantly impressed with it. With all of the size he has added, as he’s gotten greater and stronger, it appears to be like like he’s truly extra versatile. The golf membership is in a deeper place, and he’s truly hitting the golf ball straighter. So the science has labored.”

How a lot better will it work when/if he reaches 270 pounds?

Driving can’t carry a participant at Colonial Country Club, which is taken into account extra of a shot-maker’s course. DeChambeau stayed shut by means of Sunday and gave himself an opportunity on the win nearer to the inexperienced. He was on pace to be a part of the Sunday playoff earlier than bogeying the 17th gap. That will be his undoing, as he went on to complete one stroke again in a tie for third.

Charles Schwab was his fourth top-five Tour end of his 5 occasions this yr. At Harbour City, which, like Colonial, doesn’t favor the bombers, DeChambeau will as soon as once more look to high the leaderboard. “I like him [as a favorite], as a result of he’s performed right here and performed okay right here,” stated CBS Sports activities on-course reporter Dottie Pepper.

>>READ: Harbour Town Golf Links Profile: Shot-Making Excellence Required At RBC Heritage

DeChambeau truly made his professional debut at Harbour City again in 2016. The golf world was already conversant in his unorthodox approach to the sport 4 years in the past. He was the younger participant with the Ben Hogan cap, an curiosity in physics and a bag filled with irons all the identical size.

“I feel by making all of the shafts the identical size, placing the identical posture in, identical every thing, they are going to be capable to hit the golf ball lots simpler and much more effectively, and they’ll prefer it much more. It may revolutionize the sport of golf sooner or later,” the then-amateur stated on the time. “It’s a really distinctive, oddball approach of taking part in golf. But it surely works for me, and I feel down the street, for the way forward for the sport, it might be helpful.”

The Mad Scientist tied for fourth on the 2016 RBC Heritage with a rating of six-under par, and moved up right into a tie for third two years later, with a rating of 11-under. He missed the lower in his different two appearances. DeChambeau has 5 victories on the PGA Tour so far, together with a four-stroke win on the 2018 Northern Trust within the first spherical of the FedExCup Playoffs and a two-stroke win on the Dell Technologies Championship per week later.

Chasing distance can have its drawbacks for gamers who don’t develop different components of their sport. If DeChambeau contends once more this week — he’s among the favorites — it gained’t be solely due to his driver. Harbour City rewards gamers who play with precision. Whereas the restricted outcomes from his newest experiment present promise, DeChambeau must get it carried out across the inexperienced to take house a championship.

Watch the RBC Heritage Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, 3:00 – 6:00 PM ET on CBS.