“If I just had somewhat of good iron play this week, it would have been a lot different outcome,” said Bryson DeChambeau after a disappointing Masters. DeChambeau’s struggles with iron play have been a recurring issue, and it cost him at Augusta National. He finished 51st in strokes-gained approach and hit just 20 of 36 greens over the weekend. Despite his best efforts, DeChambeau couldn’t seem to find his rhythm with his irons, often hitting shots left of his target. This inconsistency ultimately led to his tied-for-fifth finish, four shots out of the playoff. Given his recent performances, it’s clear that iron play is DeChambeau’s biggest challenge; well, one analyst believes that iron play is the one thing holding DeChambeau back from beating the world’s No. 1.

Speaking on the latest YouTube episode of Pardon My Take, guest Smylie Kaufmann weighed in on DeChambeau’s struggles against Scottie Scheffler, pinpointing his recent switch to bulge-faced irons as the potential game-changer that needs changing. “It’s adding extra curvature to shots for him, and he really only plays a draw, and he hits it so high up in the air”, Kaufman noted, which might be hindering DeChambeau’s performance. DeChambeau predominantly plays a draw and hits the ball high, but unlike Scheffler, he can’t seem to make the ball fly straight, especially in crosswinds.

Well, DeChambeau did experiment with new gear, including a set of prototype LA Golf irons that featured lead tape in his already amazing bag, similar to his previous clubs. His Avoda Golf “face bulging” irons, which had a unique face curvature design and added bulge, had previously helped him secure a second US Open title. However, as we already know, they didn’t work in his favor at the 2025 Masters.

Kaufmann highlighted that while both golfers achieve the same apex with their eight-irons, Scheffler’s ability to hold a right-to-left wind and make the ball fly straight gives him an edge. “Scottie’s ball is always landing softer on the greens because when you’re fighting up against a breeze, it’s adding spin to the golf ball,” Kaufmann explained, quoting DeChambeau’s struggles with controlling trajectory and bringing the ball down.

Scheffler’s winning performance at the 2025 PGA Championship showcased his impressive iron game, with notable stats including fifth place in greens in regulation. Scheffler’s iron setup consisted of Srixon ZU85 irons for the 3-4 range and TaylorMade P7TW irons from 5-PW. His exceptional iron play, combined with strong performances off the tee and around the greens, contributed to his dominant six-shot victory.

Despite these iron-game shortcomings, DeChambeau’s elite-level driving, putting, chipping, and bunkering skills keep him in contention for major championships, and with those amazing skills-

Bryson DeChambeau is ready to shake things up

Bryson DeChambeau’s recent performances have cemented his status as one of golf’s most intriguing figures – a mad scientist of the greens, if you will. With five top-six finishes in his last six major starts, including a U.S. Open victory, DeChambeau is itching to add another trophy to his shelf. After finishing runner-up at the PGA Championship, he pondered the what-ifs, citing an 18th-hole bogey and a double bogey on the infamous 17th hole that left him trailing Scottie Scheffler by a chasmic five shots. “I don’t even know. I’m baffled right now… Just felt like things just didn’t go my way this week,” DeChambeau said with a hint of bewilderment.

DeChambeau’s curiosity is his greatest asset, driving him to tinker and innovate. He’s already mentally drafting his next move, hinting at potential changes to his game. “I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve that I’m going to be working on and hopefully bring for the U.S. Open,” he said with a sly smile. His quest for a straighter golf ball might just be the ticket – or perhaps the holy grail of golf. “Everybody talks about how straight the golf ball flies. Well, upwards of 190 [mph ball speed] like Rory and myself, it’s actually quite difficult to control the golf ball,” he mused. With DeChambeau at the helm, expect more unconventional thinking and potentially groundbreaking results. The golf world better buckle up.