Bryson DeChambeau's late-night practice pays off as he roars into contention at the PGA Championship and bids to emerge from golfing obscurity

Bryson DeChambeau cut a lone figure as the last man standing on the driving range Friday evening, his shadow backlit by the floodlights.

Racing the darkness, DeChambeau had snuck into the clubhouse before the sun set on the second round of the PGA Championship, but long after the final shards of light had withered away, play had been suspended and everyone else had gone home, the 30-year-old was still grinding away.

It's a sight many golf fans have become unaccustomed to. Not that of a player burning the metaphorical midnight oil in search of an epiphany, but that of DeChambeau himself.

Yet over the first two majors of this year, we've seen more of the controversial character than we have over the past two years.

With his money-grabbing move, DeChambeau - now a part-time LIV Golfer, part-time YouTuber - has slid into obscurity. But at Valhalla this week a resurgent DeChambeau has clawed his way up the leaderboard and back into relevance.

Bryson DeChambeau carded a four-under 67 on Day Three of the PGA Championship

The American heads into the final round in contention, two shots back of Collin Morikawa

If there were any doubters of DeChambeau's renaissance remaining following 53 holes of the PGA Championship, they needed only to look to the scenes at the 18th where he chipped in an eagle from off the green.

It propelled him to tied-fourth, two shots back of the lead. He let out a roar as he lunged into a fist-pump with the fans gathered in front of the sunlit clubhouse matching his passion. 

'Exhilarating,' DeChambeau said of the moment at 18 following his round. 'I haven't felt like that in a long time. The only other time I felt like it was when I shot 58 at Greenbrier. That was pretty exciting there. I was pretty pumped.'

He beamed as he high-fived the spectators lining the green and stopped to sign balls. DeChambeau was back and the crowd - unlike 12 months ago - were loving it.

'I've worked really hard to have people help hopefully understand who I am a little bit better,' he admitted Saturday. YouTube has been a great platform to help that out. 

'It just keeps my brain fresh and in an entertainment mode, and realizing what the game is all about, not just for myself and winning money or winning trophies but entertaining, as well. Obviously we all want to win trophies.

'But being able to entertain the fans is what we're all here to do, and I think that's what's the most important thing.'

This DeChambeau 2.0 had made its debut at The Masters when he and his 3D-printed irons shot his long-awaited, self-prophesied 'Augusta par-67' and put him into contention heading into the final round.

The 30-year-old holes out from off the 18th green for an eagle to round off his round

The DeChambeau at Valhalla this week has looked like a happier and healthier player

DeChambeau finished the third round tied for fourth alongside Viktor Holvland (left)

Revving up the crowd with his green-side antics and hoisting sign poles out of the ground, he was a constant source of entertainment at Augusta. And the show has continued at Valhalla, where he again finds himself in contention heading into a major championship Sunday.

DeChambeau's four-under 67 along with Friday's six-under 65 have ensured that he is in the mix for a second-straight major. And that is something he can not only take solace in but also encouragement - encouragement that the comeback is truly on.

The DeChambeau we're seeing this week is a world away from the one of two years ago.

When DeChambeau abandoned the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in June 2022, he was still on his 3,500-calorie diet of meat, potatoes and protein shakes in an attempt to bulk up and improve his game.

The efforts were successful with the American reaching 17st and having the biggest average driving distance in the 2019-20 season at 322.1 yards.

But they were also making him sick. Doctors warned that his regime was taking years off his life. It was a wake up call that resulted in an 18-lb weight loss in 24 days.

Even without the added muscle, DeChambeau's game this week has still resembled the exquisite long drives and putting of his sole major victory at Winged Foot. DeChambeau has also shown maturity with a newfound respect that hallowed courses, such as Augusta and Valhalla, merit.

With his constant experimenting, obsessive fixation on number crunching, single-length clubs and bold claims, the eye-rolls at DeChambeau's antics are often warranted but still, he's a character golf needs.

He's like Marmite. Yet, love him or hate him, he moves the needle. He's made for TV, delivers the most absurd headlines and is a pre-packaged marketing asset for golf.

According to the PGA Tour, he used to be one of its most popular players. He ranked fifth in the inaugural PIP rankings - behind only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. If he had stayed loyal, he likely would have continued to pocket a juicy bonus from the Tour's popularity contest without having to lift a finger.

DeChambeau's four-under 67 along with Friday's six-under 65 ensure he is in the mix

DeChambeau could look to repeat Brooks Koepka's feat from last year for LIV Golf

But instead took the LIV money and ran - all the way out of public consciousness. His former high-profile appeal is undoubtedly why LIV Golf wanted him. But while DeChambeau received a $100million payday, he and his Mad Scientist persona were locked behind a paywall.

He briefly broke out from behind the paywall at the 2023 PGA Championship where he finished tied-fourth, while fellow LIV rebel Brooks Koepka clinched his fifth major. 

Last year, DeChambeau was booed at Oak Hill as a LIV defector. This year, he's been welcomed with nothing but cheers - the occasional jeer of 'mind the ropes, Bryson,' an exception - which is a sign of how much has changed not just in the political warfare of the game, but also in DeChambeau himself.

12 months on from the frosty reception in New York, DeChambeau was bullish about LIV Golf's chances of repeating Koepka's feat.

'I think us LIV Golfers are prepared as ever to play major championships,' he said during a press conference in Singapore earlier this month. '[It] Allows us the opportunity to have a little bit more time every once in a while to get ready for those majors.

'But I think we all have the firepower to play well and win a major championship. There are a lot of major champions over here who know how to get it done, so it's just a matter of time.'

That time could be now for DeChambeau as he heads into the final round of the US PGA. Bryson is back. And golf should be rejoicing.