The Masters 2024: The “Mad Scientist” Bryson DeChambeau has revealed his latest experiment which has him top of the leaderboard at Augusta

There is a reason he is known as the “Mad Scientist”. Every iron in his bag is fitted with the same length shaft, and for this week at The Masters, Bryson DeChambeau has unveiled another innovation.

Golf’s “Mad Scientist” has unveiled his latest experiment at the Masters.

Bryson DeChambeau only won USGA approval last week to tee it up at Augusta with 3D-printed “face bulging” irons never before used in professional golf.

Known for his quirky and innovative approach to the game, DeChambeau believes his custom-made irons make mis-hits fly straighter.

“The faces have some bulge to them, they are one-of-a-kind,” DeChambeau’s longtime coach Mike Schy explained this week.

“What happens if you hit it on the toe? It hooks a lot, right? What happens if you hit it on the heel? It cuts a lot. When you have bolts, that offsets that.”

DeChambeau giving it everything off the 15th tee during the second round. Picture: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

DeChambeau, who boasts a university degree in physics, confirmed the equipment change after his stunning opening round 65 at Augusta, followed by a 73 in tough conditions on Friday.

“I put new irons in this week. I think that’s a pretty big change,” he said.

“It’s a speed thing … when I mis-hit on the toe or the heel it seems to fly a lot straighter for me and that’s what has allowed me to be more comfortable over the ball.

“I designed them with someone from back home, and they have just got a different curvature on the face than other equipment.

“Most equipment is flat. These have a different curvature on the face.

“But last week, we found out literally Thursday afternoon that they were nonconforming from the USGA. And then we worked on them all over the weekend, and finally Tuesday morning we got them to where they were in a place where they were conforming and were ready to go.”

DeChambeau, one of 13 LIV defectors at the Masters, said he had learnt to deal with criticism of unconventional ways.

“I was always different growing up and I learned pretty quickly that not everybody is going to agree with you or like what you’re doing,” he said.

“My mom always told me to respect others and treat others the way you want to be treated. I try to do that as much as possible. And when somebody doesn’t agree with me, I respectfully say, ‘okay, appreciate that, but I think it’s this way, and we’re just going to agree to disagree’. “And that’s kind of the way I’ve taken it over the past — well, my whole life, essentially.

“And the past couple years, past year, essentially, a lot has happened in my life. You realise the — I would say the frailty of life and how precious it is. You can’t figure everything out, and you’re not always going to be right. Respecting that. Respecting Father Time and understanding that — enjoy the ride. Smell the roses.”

Originally published as The Masters 2024: The “Mad Scientist” Bryson DeChambeau has revealed his latest experiment which has him top of the leaderboard at Augusta