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.
