When Bryson DeChambeau won the US Open at Pinehurst, many were understandably focused on the bunker shot which he hit on 18 which set up the par that gave him a one shot victory over Rory McIlroy.
Under that pressure, what Bryson DeChambeau did from that bunker was truly remarkable. DeChambeau’s short game is potentially underrated, but many would have faltered in the same circumstances – or even been happy just to make a play-off.
But with that, perhaps the short putt he holed to actually win the tournament almost got a little overlooked. Once again, it was not an easy shot, with Rory McIlroy missing from close to the hole from a different angle in the group beforehand. However, DeChambeau’s putt seemed to never be anywhere else but the middle of the cup.
Like many aspects of his game, DeChambeau does not putt in a traditional manner. But perhaps the golfing world did not realise quite how different the 31-year-old approaches being on the greens.
Phil Mickelson surprised by how Bryson DeChambeau tackles short putts
Speaking in his latest Break 50 video where DeChambeau was playing alongside Phil Mickelson, the Crushers GC captain was asked about what he does over those shorter putts. And it seems that the answer managed to even surprise the six-time major champion.
Mickelson asked: “This is one area that I noticed, like at the US Open, you were as solid as anybody I’ve ever seen in the game on these putts. Is there anything that you do differently or precisely on these to make you one of the best short putters in the game?
“I try to line the dimples up, everybody knows about that. Secondly, I’m very precise with my aim and then, thirdly, I try to take it straight back and straight through,” DeChambeau replied.
Mickelson responded: “And you try to have no rotation of the face, you try to have it dead square to dead square the whole time?”
“It’s dead square. And I actually don’t watch the ball. I look at my putter head as I move back and forth, so I never get ball focused,” DeChambeau added.
“So that’s interesting right there,” said Mickelson.
“I set over the ball, I make sure the lines are squared up and I watch the putter head go straight back, straight through line. I’m just imagining a chalk line down. I just try and track that line and go through,” DeChambeau explained.
“That’s very unusual for a lot of players I think,” Mickelson said.
The putting technique DeChambeau would prefer to use
What you can guarantee with DeChambeau is that he will have left no stone unturned in his pursuit of becoming the best putter he can possibly be. Interestingly, he is down in a tie for 11th for average putts per hole on LIV Golf this season.
It turns out that the two-time major champion would rather use another putting method if it was allowed. Speaking recently, DeChambeau suggested that he would putt like Sam Snead did for a time, where Snead would stand facing the hole with the putter between his legs.
But his current method appears to be working for him. He holed crucial putts on 18 on Sunday at both the PGA Championship and the US Open, winning the latter. Perhaps his decision to look at the putter head will change how many others use the flat stick in the future.
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