Bryson DeChambeau donates $25,000 Long Drive winnings to Jarrod Lyle fund

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Bryson DeChambeau winning the PGA Championship’s Long Drive contest this week was noteworthy. What he did with his winnings was special.

DeChambeau, who striped a 331-yard drive at Bellerive’s 10th hole to capture the event, said he will donate the $US25,000 prize to Jarrod Lyle’s family. Lyle, the former PGA Tour player battling leukemia, passed away on Wednesday night at his home in Torquay, Victoria.

“The story, it’s so sad,” DeChambeau said Wednesday. “His kids are suffering, obviously the whole family is. It just felt like the right thing to give it to Lusi and Jemma. They deserve that and need that right now.”

The fund, “Jarrod Lyle’s Girls,” was established by former tour player Tripp Isenhour to support the education needs of Lyle’s children. Tiger Woods and his foundation also pledged $10,000 to the drive this week, with Jon Rahm contributing $5,000.

For those seeking to help Lyle and his family, click here to contribute.

On Tuesday at Bellerive Country Club, DeChambeau added another historic trophy to his mantle: Long Drive king. Despite rainy conditions that caused numerous stoppages in practice, the bleachers remained packed throughout the day to watch the spectacle on Bellerive’s 10th tee.

And it was DeChambeau, thanks to a 331-yard drive that was almost all carry, that took the top spot. That he won is not surprising: DeChambeau ranks in the top 25 in driving distance on tour, averaging 306 yards per smack. Coming in second was Peter Uihlein at 328 yards, with Tony Finau locking up the bronze medal at 324 yards.