2024 U.S. Open: Is Bryson DeChambeau Risking Disqualification With Last-Minute Equipment Change?

Has scientist Bryson DeChambeau’s experiment gone wrong? Has he messed up his chances to win a second U.S. Open trophy? Has DeChambeau stepped out of the rules of the USGA with his ‘uncalculated’ equipment switch? The short answer to all these burning questions that surround the golf world as the final round of the U.S. Open progresses is no.

But what gave rise to these questions? Well, the current lead of the U.S. Open, Bryson DeChambeau, has surprisingly switched Krank driver heads after measuring the face of his driver on the range, leading to questions about the legality of such an action and the possible horrors of disqualification. After all, we all know the United States Golf Association (USGA) has strict guidelines on the performance of golf clubs, particularly drivers, in hopes of ensuring the tussle between technology and skill, giving the onus to the latter.

The primary concern with drivers is the amount of “spring” or flexibility in the clubface. It is currently measured by a sophisticated process involving a pendulum test, which determines the club’s characteristic time, or CT. A longer CT indicates more flexibility, which can lead to greater ball speeds and distances, thus prompting the USGA to set limits on this CT to maintain fair play. Minutes later after the change, NBC’s Jim “Bones” Mackay reported that the golfer had “hit one so hard at some point he flattened the face on his gamer so he had to go to the backup he had nearby.” 

So, is DeChambeau’s switch allowed? The answer is, most likely, yes. Players are permitted to change clubs before a round and even between rounds of a tournament, provided the new driver head has been properly tested and approved by the USGA. Since DeChambeau’s decision to switch was well within the periphery of the rules, it will likely not ruin his chances at a win. So then, why did the scientist make this dubious move at all?

What was DeChambeau’s motivation behind changing his drivers’s heads?

Considering his reputation and admiration for his scientific approach to the game, it’s likely that the Crushers GC captain or his team noticed that his original driver was close to exceeding CT limits during their pre-round testing and opted for a fresh driver head as a precautionary measure. After all, his highly analytical and research-backed style warrants his attention to detail, which would limit the risk of disqualification by using a non-conforming club.

DeChambeau’s move indicates the importance of such preventative actions at this level of play. It also underscores the evolving nature of golf technology and how even the best players in the world must constantly monitor their equipment’s performance. As DeChambeau continues to lead the U.S. Open, his equipment choices will undoubtedly be a topic of discussion, but for now, his focus remains on capturing another major championship title within the rules of the game.