The 11 Most Unusual Things About Bryson Dechambeau

Ever since Bryson DeChambeau made his mark on the golf landscape in 2015 with his U.S. Amateur and NCAA titles, he has been one of the most intriguing figures in golf.

- Stephen Hennessey

After an up-and-down season in 2017 highlighted by his first PGA Tour win, DeChambeau captured three titles in the 2017-’18 season, including back-to-back wins in the FedEx Cup Playoff s, and added a win at the Shriners Hospital for Children Open in November—giving him four victories in his last 13 tour events. - The 25-year-old represented the U.S. on his first Ryder Cup team this autumn, and with his win in Las Vegas, moved to No. 5 in the world. Along with his recent elite play, what makes the Omega Dubai Desert Classic drawcard so interesting? Several things, actually. Let us count the ways.

1. Bryson developed his first set of single-length irons at 17.

He and his longtime coach, Mike Schy, grinded down a bunch of shaft flexes and clubs to build his first set of irons. This year, Cobra, which signed DeChambeau to an endorsement deal after he turned pro following the 2016 Masters, released a consumer product, Cobra King One-Length irons, along with Bryson’s input.

And it’s not just the length of each iron shaft. Bryson’s clubs, which are 37½ inches long, the length of a standard 6-iron, are set at 72-degree lie angles that are 10 degrees more upright than standard. To achieve a consistent swing weight, all the heads weigh 278 grams.

2. DeChambeau says he’ll putt with the flagstick in at times starting in 2019, when a rules change will allow it.