A cracking sound could be heard when DeChambeau, competing at the US PGA Championship, hit his first shot at TPC Harding Park's par-four seventh hole with the club on Thursday. It then came apart when he leaned on it to pick up his tee.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Whoops. #PGAChamp

A post shared by PGA Championship (@pgachampionship) on

"That was weird, swinging too hard. I guess it's all those swings I put in," DeChambeau said with a laugh as he walked off the tee toward a ball that landed 296 yards away in the right rough.

RELATED: Day shares US PGA lead

DeChambeau added 20 pounds of muscle to his frame this year and has been the talk of the golf world since the PGA Tour returned in June from its COVID-19 hiatus, given both his imposing physique and startling distance off the tee.

Since the club was not damaged in a fit of anger or abuse, the rule book allowed DeChambeau to ask for a replacement driver and one was retrieved by a member of his team before he played the ensuing hole.