SOUTHPORT, England — Bryson DeChambeau has one final chance to avoid missing the cut at all four major championships this year—and he’s doing it in a uniquely Bryson way.
DeChambeau, long nicknamed the “Mad Scientist,” is debuting custom 3D-printed irons this week at the Open Championship. DeChambeau confirmed the new sticks have been approved by the USGA—equipment must be added to the organization’s confirming clubs and balls list in order to use in professional tournaments around the world.
A single iron takes about an hour to 3D print, DeChambeau said during an interview on The Open’s Live at the Range stream. “A full set’s about nine hours, so it’s not that bad,” DeChambeau said. “Machining and cooling and all the different processes that we do, it’s just a couple days’ work, and I can have a club from CAD (computer-aided design)-capability to a fully-printed set within four or five days.”
DeChambeau used a single 3D-printed 5-iron at the Masters, where he missed the cut by two strokes after making a triple bogey on his final hole of the second round. He’s dabbled with 3D-printing in past years with other golf equipment manufacturers, too, but is currently going at it solo since ending his relationship with LA Golf, the company that previously made shafts for every club in DeChambeau’s bag.
DeChambeau Doing Too Much?
DeChambeau, LIV Golf’s biggest star, tees off at 9:58 a.m. local time (4:58 a.m. ET) in the first round Thursday alongside fellow LIV member Tyrrell Hatton and No. 1-ranked PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler.
He’s had his typical large crowds following him during practice rounds early this week, and will continue to draw a huge spotlight once the tournament begins, too.
The major struggles—DeChambeau missed the cut at the PGA Championship by three strokes and U.S. Open by one shot—have come as DeChambeau has been trying to help LIV find new investors in the wake of the Saudi PIF pulling its funding from the league.
DeChambeau has also been ramping up his YouTube content, but isn’t ready to say he’s too occupied off the course to play better golf.
“I know I haven’t had the best results this year but ultimately I’ve won twice and top-three’d twice (in LIV events),” DeChambeau said Monday. “So, I feel like I’m playing well, it’s just a couple weird things that happened at the majors. If it goes well for me this week, then great. If it doesn’t, I’ll keep moving on and keep doing some fun stuff and creating as much as I can.”
After the Open, DeChambeau will be in action next week at the LIV Golf U.K. event at JCB Golf & Country Club, which is scheduled to begin July 23.
