Bryson DeChambeau Compass Use Banned
The Golfing Scientist was seen using a compass at the Travelers Championship


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The Golfing Scientist will no longer be able to use a compass during rounds
Bryson DeChambeau Compass Use Being Investigated
The Golfing Scientist Bryson DeChambeau uses single length irons, seriously thick grips, floats his golf balls in epsom salts and swears by his one-plane swing.
And we recently saw that he also carries around a compass with him to draw perfect circles in his yardage books.
The 24-year-old was spotted using his compass during the Travelers Championship where he was told it was being investigated by the PGA Tour and it has now subsequently been banned.
The USGA released this statement to the Golf Channel:
“At the request of the PGA Tour, the USGA and the R&A reviewed Bryson DeChambeau’s stated use of a drawing compass to assist him in determining ‘true’ hole locations, and jointly determined that his specific usage would be in breach of Rule 14-3, if used in a future round.
“The Rule prohibits a player, during a stipulated round, from using any artificial device or unusual equipment, or using any equipment in an abnormal manner, that ‘might assist him in making a stroke or in his play.’
"Because a compass is not a usual piece of equipment in golf, and Bryson clearly stated that he had used the device to assist him, the USGA, R&A and the PGA Tour agreed it was in the best interest of the game to share this determination with Bryson immediately.
"In doing so before his next round, we have made every effort to assist Bryson in avoiding possible disqualification and provide clarity to the PGA Tour and other players in the field.”
The two-time PGA Tour winner has apparently been using a compass since 2016.
“It’s been used for a long, long time,” DeChambeau said last month.
“People are saying it’s an unusual device, that’s at least what the tour’s saying.
“It’s funny people take notice when you start playing well.”
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And why he uses it? “Figuring out true pin locations,” DeChambeau said.
“The pin locations are a little bit off every once in a while, so I’m making sure they’re in the exact right spot.”
However, he'll now have to look at other ways to determine the exact pin position.
It is not the first time Bryson DeChambeau has been investigated and told to change his ways.
In early 2017 he began putting using the side saddle technique and was told to stop by the USGA.
“It [was] a long conversation. But the USGA essentially doesn’t like me doing it," he said at the time.
DeChambeau finished in a tie for ninth at the Travelers Championship. He is currently ranked a career-high 22nd in the world and looks likely to qualify for the USA Ryder Cup side.
He won his second PGA Tour title at Jack Nicklaus' Memorial Tournament earlier this month after beating Ben An in a playoff.
His first PGA Tour title came at the 2017 John Deere Classic almost a year ago.
He also won a Web.com Tour Finals event the previous year.
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Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-5. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
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