Optimal impact: DeChambeau feeling good about U.S. Open title defense

OAKMONT, Pa. – The goal is optimization. That’s why Bryson DeChambeau constantly evaluates his equipment, hoping to find not just a good fit, but the perfect fit for his unique swing and ultra-power game.

While all pro golfers, to varying degrees, are impacted by the tools in their bags, DeChambeau is arguably the touring pro whose results are most predicated by the comfort level with his equipment.

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That was evidently two years ago at LIV Golf Greenbrier when DeChambeau stuck a new Krank driver in his bag, immediately producing a level of confidence that paid off with a record-setting 12-under 58 in the final round and his first victory on LIV Golf. “My whole life dramatically changed,” he said.

Less than a year later, he won his second U.S. Open, producing a bunker shot for the ages on the 72nd hole at Pinehurst No. 2.

Now he comes to Oakmont Country Club this week for his title defense, a chance to win a third U.S. Open and become just the eighth player to win consecutive U.S. Opens. He enters with plenty of momentum, with six consecutive top-5 finishes worldwide, including a win in LIV Golf Korea, a T5 at the Masters and a T2 at the PGA Championship.

And again, equipment is a key part of his narrative.

Last week at LIV Golf Virginia presented by Maaden, the Crushers GC captain made a significant change, replacing the Avoda BAD prototype irons that he unveiled at the 2024 Masters and used at Pinehurst with his new LA Golf BAD V3-W irons. It was a move that he’s been hinting at for awhile, especially with his iron play becoming the only drag on his game that otherwise appeared in tip-top shape.

Did the move help in Virginia? DeChambeau said he was pleased with the performance of his new irons, citing a stale driver head as the primary reason why he finished tied for fourth, two shots behind eventual winner Joaquin Niemann.

The numbers back him up. He was among the tournament leaders in strokes gained approach medium length (shots between 150-225 yards), gaining +0.75 against the field. It was a vast improvement from his season average, -0.04.

Getting those three rounds of competition with his new irons was key before coming to Oakmont.

“I’ve optimized it a little bit more, so hopefully that helps with those overdraws in my irons,” he said. “You never know, but they seem to have helped last week, and hopefully it aids me this week.”

Why are the new irons so important? DeChambeau offered an explanation as only he can.

“We iterated on the design of the face,” he said. “The heel is a little bit flatter on the curvature. My face obviously has some curvature on the irons. So we're just optimizing for the gear effect on the heel and on the toe based on the mass properties that are there. Like the heel doesn't gear effect as much in an iron at my speeds, so hitting it on the heel, I've got to be a little flatter, and then the toe has a little bit more roundness on it to account for that out there, and then I moved the CG [center of gravity] out towards the toe.

“I've got such heavy grips and heavy golf shaft that it moves the CG of the club all the way to the heel, so we try to offset that with that tungsten weight on the toe. That's very simply what it is.”

Well, perhaps very simple for DeChambeau. Maybe not for the rest of us.

But this is why his fate is so much dependent on his equipment confidence. Even as he has become golf’s most popular active player – the ultimate combination of world-class performer and content creator – he’ll never fully stamp out his Mad Scientist persona.

Which, of course, makes him all the more endearing.

He was asked this week whether he ever struggles with motivation, and he responded by revealing the issues that produce low moments for him. “When I feel like there’s no place to go with equipment or my golf game or swing thoughts or theories,” he explained.

For now, he’s in a far better place with his equipment than in 2022 when he joined LIV Golf. That doesn’t mean everything is settled, of course. He still talks about building the perfect golf ball for his game, perhaps the last piece of the puzzle that will unlock the full force of his game.

When will that happen?

“Going to be a bit of time,” he said. “I’m still working on it. We think later this year I’ll have a golf ball that will be very interesting to test.

“If it helps, who knows? It’s a test. But I’m excited to keep researching and experimenting and optimizing. My goal right now is just to optimize myself to another level. If I can’t, so be it. If I can in some areas, great.”

The new irons will have to suffice this week on what he calls the toughest golf course in the world. He’ll need to hit greens and stay out of rough so thick that golf balls simply disappear from sight.

There are no guarantees of success, but at least it gives him hope.

And confidence.

“Is it going to be the ultimate answer to me winning? Probably not,” DeChambeau said of the irons. “You’ve still got to putt well, drive it well and everything.

“But do I think it will help me on certain shots in certain conditions? I think it might. If it doesn’t, I’ll go back to the drawing board and try to figure out why that occurred and continue to optimize.”

Spoken like a true optimist.

(Photo courtesy of Jason E. Miczek/USGA)