Meet Bryson DeChambeau, golf's scientist who is in contention at Colonial

Bryson DeChambeau isn’t your stereotypical PGA Tour player these days. He doesn’t bomb it off the tee. He isn’t known for his wedge game.

Instead, DeChambeau brings a unique perspective to the game. He’s known as golf’s scientist, a player who implements physics and analytics into the game.

Asked for a Cliff’s Notes version of his approach to the game, DeChambeau smiled and said: “I hit a white ball into the middle of the fairway, I hit a white ball onto the green and make a putt. That’s the easiest way I can put it.

“I mean, look, it’s more of a scientific way of playing the game. I take averages and statistics to my heart, and then also I take biomechanics to my heart as well. That’s more importantly where I am going down, and trying to understand how everything in my body is working to create more and more consistency through impact.”

The philosophy has worked so far. The SMU product won the NCAA championship and U.S. Amateur in 2015, and has gone on to win on the PGA Tour (the 2017 John Deere Classic).

Now, he’s in contention at this week’s Fort Worth Invitational at Colonial. DeChambeau, who tees off at noon Saturday, sits at 5-under, five back of leader Justin Rose.

DeChambeau is a fan favorite, too, with a few spectators yelling “Science!” after his shots.

“Look, everybody does it uniquely if you think about it,” he said. “Not one other person plays the same exact type of game. We all have different feelings, different neurological impulses that are unique to each player.

“In that facet, yes, we’re all different. We’re all going to play in unique ways. I just look a little different than most."

This story was originally published May 26, 2018 at 11:52 AM with the headline "Meet Bryson DeChambeau, golf's scientist who is in contention at Colonial."