Bryson DeChambeau explains bizarre reason why he puts his golf balls in SALT before playing

Bryson DeChambeau’s innovative methods of getting the most out of his golf game are well documented, but he revealed why he soaked his balls in salt water on Saturday.

The American is in the lead going into the final round of the US Open at Pinehurst.

DeChambeau provided power, birdies and endless entertainment on Saturday with a three-under 67, building a three-shot lead as he moved closer to another major title.

But after his fine round, DeChambeau was specifically asked why he soaks his golf balls in salt after it was mentioned during the TV broadcast earlier in the day.

Always willing to explain his scientific methods, DeChambeau thanked the reporter for his “salty ball question” before revealing the reason.

He continued, “Yes, I put my golf balls in Epsom salts.

‘I’m lucky that Connor, my manager, is doing that now. I don’t have to do it. But essentially, we float golf balls in a solution to keep the golf ball from going off balance.

‘There used to be a big problem with golf balls being out of balance, and that was just because of the manufacturing process. There will always be an error, especially if it is a sphere and there are dimples in the edges. You can’t get it perfectly in the middle.

“So what I’m doing is discovering how out of balance it is, how much out of balance it is. The heavy slide floats to the bottom, and then we mark the top with a dot to make sure it always rolls over itself.

‘It works a bit like mud. If there is too much weight on one side, you can place it 90 degrees where the mud is on the right or where the mud is on the left. I use mud as a reference for the weight there. It will fly differently and inconsistently.

“For most golf balls we get, that’s not that big of a deal. I just try to be as precise as possible, and it’s another step I do to make sure my golf ball flies as straight as possible because I’m not very good at hitting it that straight.”

The great American has proven to be one of the most innovative golfers in the game

DeChambeau is three ahead of a group that includes Rory McIlroy going into the final day of the US Open

It’s clearly working because DeChambeau has brushed off hip problems to move three ahead at the top of the leaderboard on Saturday, setting up a potentially mouthwatering showdown with world number three Rory McIlroy.

On another steamy afternoon at North Carolina’s Pinehurst Resort, DeChambeau recovered from an early bogey and troublesome hip that required mid-round treatment to return a three-under 67, edging Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, Patrick Cantlay and McIlroy. was three ahead.

Another two and five at the back are the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama and the young Swede Ludvig Aberg, who had a one shot lead after the second round.

“Trying to stay in the moment, obviously it didn’t feel great to be hip, but luckily I have a good team and we’ll figure that out afterward,” DeChambeau said.

“I’ve just got two hips that aren’t fantastic just because of the speed training I’m doing, those are the consequences of it, but I’ll be ready tomorrow.

‘I’ve had it for a long time. It’s just something that popped up.”

McIlroy, who is attempting to end a decade-long major drought, may be one of golf’s most popular figures, but the great DeChambeau has become one of the most entertaining and has enjoyed the support of a huge crowd in Pinehurst.

There will also be some golf politics and bragging rights on the line Sunday, with DeChambeau, winner of the 2020 US Open, now playing on the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour and McIlroy, long one of the most outspoken critics of the renegade circuit.