Bryson DeChambeau is generating a lot of buzz at Pinehurst, and surprisingly, it isn’t just about his six birdies that have placed him at the top of the leaderboard with a total of 203, 7-under-par. There are also questions about his equipment—not another intriguing experiment from the “scientist,” but specifically about his putter.

Similar to the rules for attending tournaments, majors have strict regulations regarding the equipment pros are allowed to use. According to Kip Henley, former caddie of Vijay Singh, DeChambeau might be violating these rules. This issue came to light recently when @NUCLRGOLF shared a post by Henley, captioning “Caddie Kip Henley raises potential violation issue surrounding Bryson DeChambeau’s putter. What are your thoughts on this?” 

This is because, as per the caddie, “The shaft has to lean away from head at least 10 degrees. It sure looks vertical.” This is accurate, as the USGA’s Rule (1a) supports the same point. However, fans are skeptical of Henley’s claims, with many criticizing him for making what they believe to be false accusations. 

This is because the USGA is very strict about the rules, and every pro needs approval before using any equipment. This strict oversight leads fans to believe that Henley is simply using the golfer’s name for clickbait to generate engagement on the post. Not only that, enthusiasts are voicing their opinions in the comments section of the post, criticizing the caddie.

Fans are lashing out at Henley for his false claims about Bryson DeChambeau’s equipment

Calling Henley’s claim pointless, one fan commented, “It’s not a potential violation. Bryson always gets USGA approval before using any of his clubs. It’s just someone stirring the pot for no reason.” Pointing out USGA’s alignment rule 1d, which specifies that the sole must touch the surface directly below the center of the face, fans believe the putter meets this criterion. They also noted that if there were any issues, the USGA would have prohibited the golfer from using this putter, but they have not done so. Taking this rule into account, one fan even said, “Kip needs to keep his opinions to himself.” They believe there are no actual issues with the putter itself, rendering Kip Henley’s point irrelevant.

One fan posed an intriguing question, stating, “It’s a fair question, but I’m sure the putter is legal.” Another fan countered with, “I believe that’s an optical illusion because he holds his arms so straight. The shaft is in line with the bent thigh.” They pointed out that the appearance of an issue could be due to an optical illusion, and 10 degrees is a small angle to judge from a distance. If the putter did not adhere to the 10-degree loft rule, the USGA’s general regulations would not have approved it. Therefore, both fans agree that this putter complies with the rules.

Highlighting that Henley has been absent from the greens since 2018 after caddying for Vijay Singh, and considering he is neither a current caddie of DeChambeau nor a USGA official, one fan boldly remarked, “Ok Kip. You’re a nobody.“ Another fan, echoing this sentiment, added, “It’s obvious nonsense.” 

Do you think there is an issue with Bryson DeChambeau’s putter? Share your thoughts in the comments below!