DeChambeau disregards criticism of unorthodox yet dominant play

“I’m not gonna stop.”

This was Bryson DeChambeau’s response to a reporter when asked of the criticism he has received for his unorthodox playing style following a dominant U.S. Open victory in Sep- tember.

DeChambeau’s U.S. Open victory at Winged Foot Golf Club particularly raised some eyebrows. This was the 27-year-old’s first major championship victory, but what turned heads was the undisputed dominance over the rest of the field. Having finished at 6 under par, DeChambeau was the only player to card a score below even.

Fellow PGA Tour player Charlie Hoffman tipped his hat to Dechambeau following his first major championship victory, stating, “It’s very hard to win any golf tournament on the PGA Tour, let alone a U.S. Open, but to go out and shoot under par on a day that no one else broke par in the final group, it’s special. He’s changing the game of golf.”

Although DeChambeau has his fair share of supporters, there are also a fair share of players that are skeptical of the play style. Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, voiced his conflicted feelings of Dechambeau, stating, “that’s just the complete opposite of what you think a US Open champion does. Look, he’s found a way to do it. Whether that’s good or bad for the game, I don’t know, but it’s just — it’s not the way I saw this golf course being played or this tournament being played. It’s kind of hard to really wrap my head around it.”

It is no secret that golfers have begun strict workout schedules and diets to gain an edge on the course, but De- Chambeau has put his body through a drastic change that no player has come close to. The 6-foot-one golfer has gained nearly 50 pounds since last year’s PGA Tour season, now weigh- ing a burly 240 pounds. Much of this gain came during the coronavirus pandemic quarantine, during which DeChambeau practiced a massive calorie intake and rigorous workout plan.

In a post-round interview following his U.S. open victory, the major champion stated when asked about his stature that he was, “6’ 1’’, 230 to 235, depending on if I’ve eaten steak or not.” This physical transformation has had a direct impact on the golfer’s game. He ended his dominant performance at the U.S. Open with the longest driving average of the field— the next closest was 12 yards behind.

On top of the significant physical changes, DeChambeau has generated debate due to his one-length irons and wedges. He is the only player on tour to do so, as it is expected for players’ clubs to increase in length as they decrease in loft and length. Despite criticism of this unorthodox club selection, DeChambeau has silenced the doubters by consistently being in contention over the past few years.

Despite his success, DeChambeau has even created controversy in his decisions on the course throughout his young career. A physics major at Southern Methodist University, DeChambeau carefully strategizes for each shot more than a typical professional golfer. Fans and fellow players argue that DeChambeau’s over-analyzing has resulted in slothful rounds.

He relies heavily on his scientific background to make detailed decisions for each shot. “So many times I have relied on science, and it worked every single time,” Dechambeau recently said of his play-style.

Yet, even with the relentless criticism of his style of play, “the scientist,” as is his nickname on the tour, does not have any intention of changing his ways. Whether liked or not, the twenty-seven-year-old is revolutionizing the game of golf, and his sights are likely set on Augusta National, where he will be looking for a second major championship come Nov. 15.