DeChambeau's US Open victory secret: Submerging his golf balls in Epsom salt baths.
After dominating the US Open with an impressive third-round performance over the weekend, the American athlete discussed his routine of salting his golf balls, a meticulous part of his game strategy that has earned him the moniker of "The Scientist."
"I soak my golf balls in Epsom salt," he shared with journalists. "Basically, we immerse golf balls in a solution to guarantee the golf ball is balanced."
His manager, Connor, takes care of the salting process, DeChambeau explained, to find out "how off-balance" the balls might be.
"There'll always be some discrepancy, particularly when it comes to a sphere with dimples on the edge," he continued. "It's impossible to get it perfectly in the center."
When the ball is heavy on one side, it sinks to the bottom, DeChambeau - a physics graduate - said, and then "we mark the top with a dot to make sure it always rolls over itself."
If the weight of the ball isn't centered, it can impact its flight path, though DeChambeau added that for most golf balls he uses, "it's not really a big deal" and was more of an "antiquated concern."
Nevertheless, he said that it is part of his preparation to be "as precise as possible" and "an extra measure I take to ensure my golf ball flies as straight as it potentially can fly because I'm not that proficient at hitting it straight."
This unconventional strategy worked in his favor on Saturday as the top-performing LIV Golf player recorded six birdies on Saturday, resulting in a 3-under 67 – the second-best score of the day – propelling him closer to a second US Open title, following his massive six-shot win in the tournament in 2020.
He currently leads by three shots over Rory McIlroy, Matthieu Pavon, and Patrick Cantlay in a three-way tie for second, and plans to defend his lead when he tees off for the fourth and final round at 2:21 p.m. ET on Sunday.
CNN's Jack Bantock provided additional reporting.
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After his successful US Open performance, DeChambeau mentioned that he occasionally plays a game of golf with salty balls.
To ensure his golf balls are perfectly balanced, DeChambeau, a physics graduate, regularly submerges them in an Epsom salt bath.
