Bryson DeChambeau runner-up in PLDA Long Drive World…

Over the past couple of years, the former US Open champion has been roundly ridiculed for his attempts to substantially increase his driving distance.

Last night, all the hard work very nearly paid off.

The 29-year-old made it all the way to the head-to-head final of the PLDA Long Drive World Championship in Nevada where he finished a valiant – and narrow – second to Germany’s Martin Borgmeier.

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To put DeChambeau’s efforts into context, 128 of the world’s biggest hitters started the event. After sailing through the Open Division, the LIV man qualified from the top-32 round-robin session with his very last ball before steering his way into the final.

He did so at the expense of some of the circuit’s biggest names, too. Two-time champion Kyle Berkshire – a close friend of DeChambeau – was eliminated in the round of 16, with last year’s winner Justin James was eliminated at the last four stage.

In the final, DeChambeau found the grid – or scoring area – with three of his six drives, maxing out at 406 yards. However, Borgmeier had just too much in the tank, pounding his fourth ball 426 yards to seal the win.

Afterwards, the…