‘Mad scientist’ Bryson validated at Winged Foot

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU’S unorthodox style got major validation yesterday, as the power-driving “mad scientist” of the PGA Tour claimed the US Open by a definitive six-stroke margin and silenced his sceptics.

Since he unveiled his single-length set of clubs at the start of his pro career, the former physics major has embarked on a one-man mission to revolutionise golf, facing plenty of doubts in a sport where tradition is valued above all else.

His most recent experiment was perhaps his most ambitious yet: a physical transformation that saw the 27-year-old pack on roughly 14kg of muscle with a high calorie diet and hours spent at the gym during the PGA Tour hiatus this year, in order to add jaw-dropping velocity to his drive.

“I all of a sudden got a lot stronger, worked out every day, been working out every day, and all of a sudden – not because of clubs, but because of me, I was able to gain 20, 25 yards,” said DeChambeau after winning his maiden major title over fellow American Matthew Wolff.

Four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, who finished tied for 8th at Winged Foot Golf Club, told reporters he was initially sceptical that DeChambeau’s hard-charging approach would work in the long term, after playing with him at Colonial in June.

“I sort of said, okay, wait until he gets to a proper golf course, he’ll have to rein it back in,” McIlroy said.

“This is as proper as they come, and look what’s happened. Yeah, he’s got full belief in what he’s doing, and it’s pretty impressive.” – Reuters