McIlroy says DeChambeau’s driving is ‘unbelievable’

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy says Bryson DeChambeau’s distance off the tee is ‘unbelievable’.

McIlroy and DeChambeau were grouped together for the final round of last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Fort Worth and where the American went within a shot of forcing his way into a play-off.

Rory McIlroy talks head of the RBC Heritage (Credit: PGA Tour)

McIlroy struggled right from the outset when he shanked his second shot way right down the first fairway for an eventual score of 73 and a distant share of 32nd place.

He was asked his opinion of DeChambeau’s game ahead of this week’s RBC Heritage Classic at Hilton Head, South Carolina.

“It was obviously, at the start of the year, he came out, and he was a bit bigger and you could see he was getting a bit of speed and stuff, and he was hitting it a long way,” said McIlroy.

“But he hit a couple drives on Sunday that Harry and I just looked at each other, and we’re like, holy s##t, that was unbelievable.”

“He hit one into the wind on 11. I hit a really good one and probably hit it like 315, 320. He must have flew my ball by 40 yards. He hit it like 370, 375 into the wind. It was crazy. It was nuts. It’s unbelievable.”

“I mean, it’s impressive what he’s doing. There’s going to be courses where it works, and there’s going to be courses where it won’t. I can’t see him hitting that many drivers this week [at the RBC], for example. But, look, he nearly won on Colonial, but Colonial you can always miss it on one side.”

“Look, it’s impressive. He’s big. He’s sort of gone down a path, and he’s obviously very — he’s got a conviction, and he’s following it. That’s what he’s done. He’s always thought outside the box and thought a little differently to most people.”

“He’s really put his mind at wanting to get longer, and he’s definitely done that”.

Looking at DeChambeau’s driving stats post the Charles Schwab Challenge he is now ranked out front first in Driving Distance with an average drive of 323.8 yards, which is 21.3 yards longer than his 2018/19 season average of 302.5 yards while he ended last season ranked a lowly 34th in distance off the tee.