Bryson Apologizes To His USGA "Family"

Bryson DeChambeau, whose side-saddle putter was ruled non-conforming by the USGA, missed another cut and vented about having to abandon the method because he could not use his preferred blade.

Brian Wacker reports from the Honda Classic.

“It [was] a long conversation,” DeChambeau said after a 71 to miss the cut by four shots. “But the USGA essentially doesn’t like me doing it.

“I’m pretty much done with it. They’re not a good organization, and you can quote me on that. I’m part of their family and as family it’s very frustrating to see them stunt the growth of the game.”

I'm not sure about this "family" he speaks but one presumes there are not secret handshakes, just USGA championships which bond the winners with the USGA family.

Anyway, DeChambeau took to Twitter to apologize, though he made similar comments at Torrey Pines.

pic.twitter.com/6CsLYe43IE

— Bryson DeChambeau (@b_dechambeau) February 26, 2017

DeChambeau is mercifully off this week and has a chance to hit a reset button that has included launching new irons at the PGA Show, then trying to play that same week at Torrey Pines. He has also tried to change putting styles and has taken on the weight of "growing the game" which, while very admirable, may be just too much on his plate given how competitive the PGA Tour can be.

Comments

[Ivan Morris]

The Establishment sucks everywhere! But, I have no sympathy for BdeC. His putting method was so contrived and ugly - it would shrink the game not grow it.

[Tom Morris]

@Ivan Morris

Agree with you but its thanks to the "Establishment" that guys try these sort of things and yes ugly sounds about right.

[BDF]

It is amazing to me that the USGA will jump on a first year pro with such force, yet turn a blind eye to real problems. Oh, sorry, that (ahem) report showed there are no other problems, I forgot.

His putting style would have gone by the wayside on its own, it wasn't particularly effective.

[Truth in Advertising]

Shame on Geoff for writing "side-saddle putter" in his description during this story. The side-saddle strike was never an issue. The PUTTER was deemed non-conforming whether he used it side-saddle, conventional or stuck up his arese. Bryson can't putt, period. Thinks it can't be his fault and blames somebody else, period. But he's quoted, Geoff perpetuates it with intentionally misleading writing, and then as was Geoff's goal BDF blames the USGA for something they didn't do or say. The perfect description of journalism today.

[Streaky Putter]

Bryson has a few issues of his own but he shouldnt have to retract calling the USGA out.

[Truth in Advertising]

Streaky,

What exactly, in this specific case, did the USGA do to deserve "calling out"?

[CroDad]

Truth

Perhaps I'm missing something but in his first sentence Geoff refers to the issue as "side saddle putter". With the putter being the instrument and not the person.

[BDF]

Sorry, @ truth - I don't blame the USGA for anything. I simply point out they act amazingly quickly when the party in question has little or no recourse. That style of putting looks horrible, and is proving to be ineffective. Why bother with it? There are a litany of more important issues that need attention. The priorities of this organization are, to say the least, curious.

[digsouth]

El Truth-

Sir the PUTTER is plainly stated as the ''non conforming issue''. I am not sure why you wasted good zeroes and ones in cyberspace doing exactly what you accuse Geoff of doing. Glass houses, etc.

As to DeShambeau ?, it would appear he is trying very hard to be ''different'' for the sake of being different. I don't think anything he is doing from his hat to his giant grips is going to sweep golfers like tattoos has swept housewives to basketball players- all wanting to be ''different'' and becoming a parody of themselves. Honestly, why announcers make a big deal out of a hat is beyond me, other than having something to say besides their 20 standard sentences- you know, ''Everyone has left that short'' and stuff like that.

And the equal length shafts was done by Tommy Armor in the 845 days- a great looking head that had no findable sweet spot. Cobra will be giving these away in 18 months or so. There are lots of center shafted putters that will work with a sidesaddle stroke. There is a limit to how upright you bend the shaft though.

Once he decides to play golf instead of wasting time trying poorly to reinvent the wheel, he will probably be a good player, or burned out. We'll see.

Meantime, WTF with the attack on Geoff with your ''alternative facts''

[OWGR Fan]

@BDF - BDC side saddle putting stroke was NOT in question/rejected by the USGA. He had a putter of his declared non conforming by the USGA and got all huffy about it.

[Truth in Advertising]

OWGR +1
Digsouth- my point was Geoff could have/should have just said "putter" without the "side-saddle" attribution which would have actually been accurate. But instead he conflated the issue. The putter was deemed non-conforming. The way he putted with it was never on the radar.
CrODad -my point again was Geoff should have just said "putter" because the method was not the issue.
BDF - the USGA makes a lot of mistakes but this wasn't one. They never have and still don't have an issue with side-saddle putting.

[KLG]

Family? OK then. And what a coincidence. My main goal is to make more putts, too!

Geoff didn't conflate anything. Everyone here knows side-saddle was not the issue. Rather, his homemade putter was designed for side-saddle use and was clearly nonconforming. Oops. Did Wilson make it for him?

[Hardy Greaves]

Lest we forget, Sam Snead made a pretty good go with side saddle putting using a regular Acushnet Bullseye. Won a PGA tournament with it, late in his career.

And to my eye he looked pretty good doing it.

[Edward Brumby]

Truth in Advertising, is Bryson the first person to win the U.S. Amateur without being able to putt period? I thought at some point the ball had to get in the hole.

[Truth in Advertising]

Edward,
You are correct I should have said, " can't putt now, period."

[PeaceFrog]

Funny how apologies seem to appear as The Masters approaches.

[munihack]

Bryson is finding out that being a non conformist has its risks. Not to mention the additional time and energy it takes. Meanwhile he is getting it handed to him on the PGA tour putting surfaces. He is trying to find a better tool to solve what likely is not its fault. He is not the first mediocre putter frustrated by the limits of his skill on the greens. But he seems to draw the wrong kind of pressure to his game by "experimenting" with his equipment.

[Press Agent]

@ Truth;

Sorry, but you are clearly mistaken. Period. You may say the side-saddle putting style was never on the radar from a violation stand-point, but the only reason they started looking at this putter was because he was using it side-saddle. They don't like the way it looks, so they dig into it to see how they can get him to stop doing it. Period. The usga is a disaster. Period.

[ChuckDietzenTNnotIN]

For a guy who seems to embrace analysis of approach to the game it surprises me Bryson has not hooked up with Dave Pelz. Perhaps there are other teachers, but Pelz is the only one I've read who has a basis for virtually every putting and short game instruction he makes, oten describing in detail the experimentation he has carried out to justify the recommendation.

[JJBeck]

DeChambeau has very little standing in the game to complain about the USGA. Are they supposed to look the other way while he uses a non conforming piece of equipment ? Kids everywhere will not play golf , because they won't be able to stand facing the hole and miss by a mile like Bryson. The guy is the one of the worst putters I have ever seen . He's doing commercials and hasn't cracked an egg on the Tour. He has a really big mouth for somebody that can't play dead.

[Rich S]

Hopefully, usga will some day soon turn the corner, stop trying to be loved, and will focus on governing for, in their words, "For the Good of the Game." Though they've never, best I know, clarified what was wrong with Bryson's putter, it seems the croquet style was the bigger issue. The game would have been better off 30 yrs ago had they acted and banned the anchored belly stroke. On this one, am giving them a little "love" for swiftly acting.

[digsouth]

@ Truth

I get your point, I just don't know why it wasn't stated that way originally.


dig

[Keith - NYC]

Hope BD sorts this out soon.....he looked to have so much potential coming out of SMU.....maybe it all comes into focus somehow during the 2017 schedule and he gets himself back into contention at a few events.....otherwise he may be off to SpaceX tour.

[Geoff]

Thanks all for the defense. I'm well aware of the differences having watched Bryson putt with a more conventional putter and style at Riviera. The putter that caused issues, and which is now fully conforming, was the model he used for sidesaddling. If he wants to go back to it, he can.

[John]

Apologizing is lame. Own it, Bryson! Instead of being The Hat on the PGA Tour (well, as long as you last out there), be the Black Hat! Screw the USGA and everyone else dogging your bag!

[Priussmug]

I believe the Usga is full of people who THINK they are looking out for the game. Like any other ruling. Often they have people who are full of themselves and believe they are the smartest guy in the room..
Bryson's putter was ruled illegal and by all accounts from officials I talked to, they agreed.
Stipid move politically to call out ruling bodies while relying on public persona for marketing and in some cases actual starts in tournaments

[RickABQ]

Did the USGA actually say *why* his previous putter was non-conforming? I just read that it was, but not the precise reason why. Thanks.

[Rich S]

RickABQ,
Looked for explanation and never found one. True to form, they sent an underling out as spokesperson. One thing they do best is run for cover.

[Truth in Advertising]

RickABQ and Rich- FYI the USGA, as a matter of policy, never releases information about why equipment doesn't conform. I believe this is to protect all the manufacturers not because of a need to "run for cover."