If you’ve been following the 2020 PGA Tour season, you should be well aware of Bryson DeChambeau’s transformation from a reasonably long hitter to the longest hitter on the PGA tour. In the off season, DeChambeau literally told the world that he was going to pick up 20 pounds of muscle, and start chasing 200 mp/h ball speeds (previously limited to athletic freaks like Cameron Champ).
Back then, it felt a bit far fetched. If it was that easy to gain distance, wouldn’t all the pro’s be smashing protein shakes and adding more strength training to their daily routines?
In the case of DeChambeau, the answer is a clear and resounding yes. By focusing on golf specific strength training (power + range of motion exercises), adding pure muscle, and putting significantly more energy into each and every driver swing, DeChambeau has become a monster off the tee. But how long is he really? Is it all just hype? By the end of this article, it should be clear that Bryson’s theories are being backed by cold hard facts.
PGA Tour Driving Distance Stats: 2000 – 2020
| Year | Player Name | Driving Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Bryson DeChambeau | 323.0 |
| 2020 | Cameron Champ | 322.6 |
| 2019 | Cameron Champ | 317.9 |
| 2018 | Rory Mcllroy | 319.7 |
| 2017 | Rory Mcllroy | 317.2 |
| 2016 | JB Holmes | 314.5 |
| 2015 | Dustin Johnson | 317.7 |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | 314.3 |
| 2014 | Bubba Watson | 314.3 |
| 2013 | Luke List | 306.3 |
| 2012 | Bubba Watson | 315.5 |
| 2011 | JB Holmes | 318.4 |
| 2010 | Robert Garrigus | 315.5 |
| 2009 | Robert Garrigus | 312.0 |
| 2008 | Bubba Watson | 315.1 |
| 2007 | Bubba Watson | 315.2 |
| 2006 | Bubba Watson | 319.6 |
| 2005 | Scott Hend | 318.9 |
| 2004 | Hank Kuehne | 314.4 |
| 2003 | Hank Kuehne | 321.4 |
| 2002 | John Daly | 306.8 |
| 2001 | John Daly | 306.7 |
| 2001 | John Daly | 301.4 |
Please note – These stats were collected after the Rocket Mortgage classic from 02-05 July. It is entirely possible that DeChambeau will be overtaken by Cameron Champ this year, given that they are separated by less than a yard. For this reason, I’ve included both their stats for 2020.
Bryson DeChambeau Driving Distance Stats: 2015 – 2020
Let’s now take a look at how Bryson DeChambeau’s distance has progressed over the last 5 years. 2020 is obviously the standout season, but people may not realize that he has been committed to this plan for at least 12 months. The off season between 2019 and 2020 just allowed him to go all in with bulking and strength training. This is similar to what you will see with professional rugby players. They build strength and bulk during the off season, and then do their best to maintain during the actual season.
| Year | Player Name | Driving Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Bryson DeChambeau | 323.0 |
| 2019 | Bryson DeChambeau | 302.5 |
| 2018 | Bryson DeChambeau | 305.7 |
| 2017 | Bryson DeChambeau | 299.4 |
| 2016 | Bryson DeChambeau | 294.6 |
| 2015 | Bryson DeChambeau | 306.0 |
Whichever way you look at, DeChambeau’s new found distance is nothing short of amazing. No player in the history of the golf has gained so much distance off the tee in a single season.
So who is the longest player on the PGA Tour?
To be honest, average driving distance isn’t necessarily the best indicator of a player’s maximum distance potential. For instance, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka are just two players who leave a lot of distance in the tank during most tournaments. They could get into the 190+ mp/h ball speed territory if they had to.
In my opinion, the best indicator of driving distance potential is the total number of drives over 350 yards over the course of a season. Unfortunately the PGA tour doesn’t measure this stat and it would take weeks to retrieve this information from their database. Fortunately, they did prepare this info after the Rocket Mortgage classic, and once again, DeChambeau’s stats are mindblowing.
Drives Over 350 Yards – Rocket Mortgage Classic 2020
| Player Name | Drives over 350+ |
|---|---|
| Bryson DeChambeau | 16 |
| Matthew Wolff | 7 |
| Cameron Champ | 6 |
| Sam Burns | 5 |
Drives over 300 yards used to be considered exceptional, but the simple reality is that most pros are launching it more than 300 yards. It’s only the shortest hitters (like Tyrell Hatton) who struggle to hit more than 300 yards regularly.
More importantly, 350 yards is the new yard stick for measuring a players distance potential. This where players like DeChambeau, Champ and Mcllroy need to be if they are going to lay claim to the title of longest hitter on the PGA tour. Right now, DeChambeau seems to be the guy pushing above the 350 yard mark most regularly. When combined with his average driving distance of 323.0 yards, it’s pretty clear that Bryson DeChambeu is now the longest player on the PGA tour.
DeChambeau Launching 379 Yard Drive
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably ready to see the man himself crunching a 379 yard drive (apparently he pulled it). Here we go:
Resources Used In This Post
PGA Tour Stats | Bryson DeChambeau Stats | Rocket Mortgage Classic Drives Over 350 Yards