Bryson DeChambeau

Bryson James Aldrich DeChambeau, born September 16, 1993 in Modesto, California, is an American professional golfer. He has won eight times on the PGA Tour, including one major tournament, the 2020 U.S. Open.

As an amateur, DeChambeau became the fifth player in history to win both the NCAA Division I Championship and the U.S. Amateur Championship in the same year.

In a row with Niklaus and Woods

With his victory at the U.S. Open, he became the third player, after Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, to win those three championships and the sixth player to win both the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open.

DeChambeau is known for his analytical and scientific approach to the sport and has earned the nickname "The Scientist."

Specially designed clubs

His clubs are specially designed to his specifications, with irons that all have the same shaft length. In addition, the grips are thicker than standard golf clubs and the loft of his driver is flatter.

He made his debut on the PGA Tour as an amateur in the summer of 2015. He has been a professional golfer on the tour since the spring of 2016.

First title win at 14

He won his first title in 2017 at the John Deere Classic. As an amateur, DeChambeau became only the fifth player ever to win both the NCAA Division I championship and the U.S. Amateur Open in the same year.

In 2020, he put on 20 kilograms of muscle and altered his swing during the first lockdown of the Corona pandemic, which led to a significant increase in his driving distance.

Longest tee shots on the PGA Tour in 2020

DeChambeau was the longest tee shot maker on the 2020 PGA Tour with an average tee length of 337.8 yards (about 309 meters).

Since changing his swing and adding muscle, DeChambeau has won the Rocket Mortgage Classic (2020) and the Arnold Palmer Invitational (2021) in addition to the U.S. Open.

Rules controversy

DeChambeau is known to enjoy arguing with the referees during a tournament. For example, in the second round of the 2020 Memorial Tournament, his ball landed under a fence on the second shot on the 15th and was apparently out of bounds.

DeChambeau tried to argue that only part of the ball was out of bounds and he should be allowed to play it, but PGA Tour rules official Ken Tackett ruled against him. DeChambeau asked for a ruling from a second official, who upheld Tackett's decision as correct.

Subsequently, DeChambeau missed the tournament cut and was eliminated.

Penalty drop called for

Just two weeks later at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, DeChambeau's tee shot on the 7th stopped on some small sticks near the base of a tree.

He tried to argue that "red ants" were in the ball's immediate vicinity and requested a penalty-free drop under the rule that allows a drop "when a dangerous animal (such as fire ants) near a ball can cause serious physical injury to the player."

Unsuccessful argument

He spent nearly three minutes trying to convince the umpire (who happened to be Tackett again), but ultimately had to play the ball as it lay. He finished the hole with a double-bogey.

Nevertheless or just because of that and also because of his special swing technique DeChambeau's appearances at tournaments are always popular with the audience.

[Sources: Wikipedia USA and Germany]

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