Sawt Falasteen - DeChambeau finding right balance at Augusta National

"It's a daily battle," the reigning US Open champion admitted after firing a four-under par 68 on Friday for a seven-under par total that had him one shot off the lead.

"It's not easy to try and be more conservative when you know the leaders are starting to run away," he said, adding that the intricacies of Augusta National only compound that problem.

"You get these little shelves in certain areas and these little fingers that you've got to hit the ball into, and you've got to hit a cut or a draw. You have to have every shot in the bag.

"It's just difficult to try to accomplish, I would say, just the goal of just being patient and being understanding."

DeChambeau has a mixed history at Augusta National, where he finished tied for 21st as an amateur in 2016 but outside the top 25 in his next six starts.

That included missed cuts in 2022 and 2023 before he finally seemed to find his way last year, when he shot an opening-round 65 and was tied for the lead through 36 holes on the way to a share of sixth place.

Along the way, he provoked the ire of fans of the iconic Georgia course, notably in 2020 when he claimed he muscle he'd packed on made it a "par 67" for him.

This year, he's a darling of Augusta patrons -- some no doubt won over not only by DeChambeau's golf -- now largely showcased on the LIV Golf tour -- but also by his engaging YouTube channel.

"I think the patrons have always been great here," DeChambeau said. "Even when I was in my trying times, I feel like there was still a lot of support.

"Now it just feels like a bolster of energy everywhere. It's quite different, and it's a lot of fun."

On Friday, DeChambeau took full advantage of a course softened by overnight rain, nabbing four front-nine birdies.

That included unsurprising birdies on two par-fives, along with an impressive hole-out from a bunker on the fourth and a birdie at the par-four fifth.

"I feel like I'm doing a really good job of just staying in the moment, not thinking about the next hole, not thinking about the putt, not thinking about anything else," DeChambeau said.

"When I get a little nervous, I go, 'OK, it's just a golf shot. Come on, focus, do it like you've always done it.'"

V.Said--SF-PST