Bryson DeChambeau clinched his second US Open title last Sunday after a thrilling showdown in North Carolina - amid a swirl of controversy.
DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy went head-to-head in a nail-biting final round at Pinehurst No. 2, with DeChambeau edging out the PGA Tour heavyweight by just one stroke. The LIV Golf superstar began the day three shots ahead of McIlroy, but the tables turned dramatically on championship Sunday.
McIlroy found his stride, sinking three birdies between holes 10 and 13, propelling him two shots ahead of DeChambeau with only five holes remaining. Yet, the excitement was far from over as McIlroy stumbled with three bogeys in the last four holes, including two devastatingly short missed putts on the 16th and 18th.
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This opened the door for DeChambeau to make a stunning comeback, sealing his victory with an impressive up-and-down on the 18th. Known for his unconventional approach to golf, DeChambeau's equipment sparked debate when veteran PGA Tour caddie Kip Henley raised doubts about the legitimacy of his putter.
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"If I’m a player around the lead in the US Open, I would ask the USGA to check the specs on this putter," Henley said in a post on X, with a photo of the putter. "The shaft has to lean away from the head at least 10 degrees. It sure looks vertical. Not being a ---- or hate him at all, but it is a rule."
After Henley's tweet sparked a flurry of backlash for questioning DeChambeau's putter choice, has taken a deep dive into the Rules of Golf to examine the ruling in question.
The rulebook states: "When assessing the conformity of an adjustable club, it is important to remember the third condition listed in Part 2, Section 1b, and to check that it cannot be adjusted into a position which does not conform to the Equipment Rules.
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DeChambeau won the U.S. Open for a second time last Sunday (Getty Images)"For example, a putter which is adjustable for lie must not be capable of being adjusted into a position where the shaft diverges from the vertical by less than 10 degrees (see Section 1d, below), or any other position which would render the club non-conforming (see Figure 1)."
For those wanting the nitty-gritty, the USGA clarifies: "It should be noted that all putters can usually be positioned in such a waythat the shaft diverges from the vertical by less than 10° or even to a position where the shaft itself is vertical. Also, it is unusual for the sole ofa putter to be completely flat all the way from heel to toe.
"When faced with a ruling of this kind, the decision should not be based on whether a player uses the putter with the shaft in a position less than 10° –but whether the putter design facilitates this."
As one would expect, DeChambeau's club would have undergone rigorous checks to ensure it meets all requirements. A day later, Henley, the caddie, admitted his initial post was 'tongue in cheek'.
"Jesus Mary and Joseph, you people have lost your minds!" he tweeted. "Don’t you think I would understand that Bryson's equipment has been inspected 1,000 times, and his putter would certainly be conforming? It was a tongue-in-cheek tweet that I knew would rile some of you up. This is the easiest pot I ever stirred."
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