Bryson DeChambeau“The Mad Scientist” · 2× US Open Champion · LIV Golf

Bryson James Aldrich DeChambeau (born September 16, 1993) is an American professional golfer competing on LIV Golf. Nicknamed “The Mad Scientist,” DeChambeau is one of the most distinctive figures in the history of professional golf — an athlete who approaches the sport through the lens of physics, biomechanics, and data-driven experimentation.

A physics major at Southern Methodist University (SMU), DeChambeau has consistently applied scientific principles to his game in ways that challenge convention: single-length irons, a dramatically altered swing plane, and one of the most publicized body transformations in professional sports — adding approximately 40 lbs of muscle to become one of the longest hitters in world golf history at over 320 yards per drive.

He is a two-time US Open champion, having won at Winged Foot in 2020 and Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024 — the latter in a dramatic playoff victory over Rory McIlroy that instantly became one of the most memorable moments in major championship history.

No story in recent golf history captured mainstream attention quite like DeChambeau's physical transformation. Between 2019 and 2020, he added roughly 40 pounds of muscle, going from a typical tour player's physique to something closer to an NFL linebacker. The result was a driving game unlike anything the sport had seen — consistently hitting 320 to 340 yards off the tee, reducing par-5s to drive-and-chip scenarios and making long par-4s obsolete.

Critics argued the approach was unsustainable and exposed him to injury risk. Supporters saw it as a glimpse of the future — that athleticism, long ignored in a sport that prized technical precision over raw power, was about to become golf's biggest performance advantage. His 2020 US Open win at Winged Foot — a course specifically designed to punish overpowering — answered many of those critics directly.

In 2022, DeChambeau became one of the most high-profile defectors from the PGA Tour when he joined LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed breakaway league that upended professional golf's established order. His move — alongside Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka — triggered one of the most contentious episodes in the sport's modern history.

For DeChambeau, the decision was motivated by financial incentive, schedule flexibility, and a team-format structure that aligned with his desire to compete differently. The format, featuring shotgun starts and no-cut 54-hole tournaments, drew criticism from traditionalists — but LIV's continued existence and growing production value has forced the golf establishment to reckon with its presence.

Crucially, DeChambeau remained eligible for major championships through LIV — a fact that mattered enormously when he claimed his second US Open title at Pinehurst in 2024.

The 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2 provided one of the defining moments of DeChambeau's career and a story that transcended golf entirely. Going into the final round, he faced a head-to-head battle with Rory McIlroy — arguably the game's most popular player and a man who had not won a major in a decade.

DeChambeau's closing round was a masterclass under pressure. He held off McIlroy over the closing holes to win his second US Open, cementing his position not just as a LIV outlier but as a legitimate major champion on the biggest stages in golf. The victory silenced a significant portion of his critics and reignited debate about his place in the game's elite conversation.

For the broader golf world, the result was bittersweet — McIlroy's near-miss continued his major drought, while DeChambeau's win handed LIV Golf its most credible argument yet.

Beyond the tour, DeChambeau has embraced the role of content creator — building a YouTube channel and social media presence that documents his training, course strategy, and off-course personality. His collaborations with athletes outside golf have expanded his audience significantly.

Among his most notable crossover moments is a collaboration with NBA legend Steph Curry — a pairing that blends two of sport's most analytically minded competitors. DeChambeau's willingness to engage with athletes, fans, and content creators across disciplines positions him as more than a golfer: he is a sports personality with genuine cultural reach.