It was an experiment that yielded a US Open win and saw him dubbed 'The Mad Scientist', but Bryson DeChambeau now claims he regrets his huge weight gain in 2020.
The American piled on 50 pounds over the course of a few months, via a combination of heavy weightlifting and a diet plan signified by high calories and protein shakes. It was a formula that seemed to work at Winged Foot, where he blitzed the field to win his first major title by six shots.
But amid a huge focus on producing the longest drives on the PGA Tour, his new tactics also left him red faced that year at Augusta. Claiming he would now be playing the course as a Par-68, implying his big hitting would negate the distance of the four par-five holes, DeChambeau finished tied for 34th and has failed to add a major title since.
The LIV Golf rebel continues to raise eyebrows and is currently embroiled in a lawsuit against the PGA Tour, claiming he is still owed £1.5m. He and old rival Brooks Koepka have also voiced their disapproval at defectors not being able to earn world ranking points at LIV events.
But regardless, the 29-year-old is now looking leaner, and has expressed his regret at his period of bulking up: "I ate improperly for almost a year and a half, and I was starting to feel weird," he said, on the Five Clubs podcast. “My system and my gut was all messed up. I went completely healthy, went on a Whole 30 diet, got a nutritionist, did blood work, measured stuff in my gut biome. I was super inflamed.”
Golf writer Dylan Dethier gave an insight into DeChambeau's 2020 diet, tweeting: "BREAKFAST: 4 eggs, 5 bacon strips, toast, 2-3 orgain protein shakes. GOLF: GoMacro bars, PB and J, 3 protein shakes. POST-GOLF SNACK: protein shake. DINNER: Steak, Potatoes. 2 protein shakes."
The Whole 30 diet he then turned to is a 30-day plan that focuses on cutting out sugar, alcohol, grains and dairy. It's a stark contrast from his 2020 methods, which the divisive star admits he would not now recommend to fellow pro golfers.
DeChambeau, who earned a physics degree from Southern Methodist University, then outlined his body changes since altering his diet: "I’ve been using this new chef now, I lost 20 pounds in a month," he said. "All the inflammation has just left my system.”
DeChambeau is yet to win since joining Greg Norman's venture, with his last tournament victory coming at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2021. In fact, one his most notable moments since signing with LIV was a comical one, clotheslining himself with a course rope in Chicago.
