Bryson DeChambeau confused by question about 3D-printed 5 iron at the Masters

Bryson DeChambeau’s Confusing Day at the Masters

If the concept of 3D printed golf clubs wasn’t already puzzling, Bryson DeChambeau managed to add to the confusion following a lackluster first round at the Masters. After recording a score of 4-over 76, placing him outside the top 50 at Augusta National, DeChambeau appeared somewhat uncomfortable during his post-round interview regarding his 3D-printed 5-iron.

“That’s a long story,” he mentioned when asked about the club. “Not here.”

DeChambeau had first introduced his 3D printed clubs during the 2024 Masters, but, as it turns out, they required approval from the United States Golf Association (USGA).

He elaborated on how the specifications of the club have benefited him in the past, saying he designed it with a colleague from back home, noting that its face curvature diverged from traditional flat equipment. “These clubs have different curvatures on the face, so they can sometimes help straighten out mishits a little bit more,” he recalled from two years ago.

This time around, after struggling on Thursday, he went into detail about the manufacturing process, stating it takes about eight hours to print the club, plus an additional three to four hours of further adjustments.

The approval process by the USGA involves various tests that measure the shape and material characteristics of clubs to ensure compliance with their standards. “There’s a lot more to do,” he added. “You can get it done in a day and a half.”

During the seventh hole of his round, DeChambeau used the club, describing it as “awesome” and hitting a solid second shot. However, when questioned about whether he planned to continue using it over the weekend, he reacted with surprise, saying, “No, it has to be USGA compliant. There’s this whole process you have to go through.”

Despite having access to exclusive equipment, the golfer encountered difficulties throughout the day, notably taking three shots to escape a bunker on the 11th hole, ultimately leading to a triple bogey. “The bunkers were softer than I expected,” he noted.