Bryson DeChambeau raises similar Rory McIlroy concerns ahead of U.S. Open title defence

Bryson DeChambeau admits he was unhappy with his driving on LIV Golf last week, and that he will be changing driver heads before getting his title defence underway at this week's U.S. Open.

DeChambeau, 31, has echoed similar concerns about his driving to Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy, 36, woefully missed the cut on 9-over par at the RBC Canadian Open. 

The World No.2 found just four fairways during his second round at TPC Toronto. 

McIlroy switched back into a new TaylorMade Qi35 Driver and in a much shorter shaft. 

But it did little to reignite that Masters fire. 

After missing his first cut on the PGA Tour since the 152nd Open at Royal Troon last July following rounds of 71 and 78, McIlroy confirmed he is going straight back to the drawing board ahead of the U.S. Open. 

"Yeah of course I'm concerned," said McIlroy about the state of his game, before discussing more details about his driving. 

McIlroy added: "So I went back to a 44-inch driver this week to try to get something that was a little more in control and could try to get something a bit more in play.

"But if I'm going to miss fairways, I'd rather have the ball speed and miss the fairway than not.

"I was saying to Harry [Diamond, caddie] going down the last this is the second time this year I've tried the new version, and it hasn't quite worked out for me.

"So I'd say I'll be testing quite a few drivers." 

LIV Golf superstar DeChambeau will be doing similar too by the sounds of things, albeit he is likely to remain with his trusty Krank driver head in play for golf's third major of 2025.  

The two-time U.S. Open champion last week confirmed to golf reporter Garrett Johnston that his power-packed Krank Formula Fire Pro Driver (which is designed for long drivers) in 5 degrees is tested every week by the USGA to ensure it remains within the rules.

In other words, that it doesn't get too hot.

McIlroy's former TaylorMade Qi10 Driver failed a C.T. test during the PGA Championship, which led to a whole host of controversy thereafter. 

DeChambeau believes his own driver has now "given away" after his T4 at LIV Golf Virginia.

The big-hitting American will therefore be switching driver heads before his Thursday tee time at the U.S. Open. 

"I drove it really poorly for my own standards this week," said DeChambeau, who notched his fourth straight top-five finish on LIV Golf in Virginia despite being unhappy off the tee. 

"I'm going to go work on that. I feel like the driver might have kind of given away this week.

"I've used it for over three months now and it's time to put a freshy in.

"It's something I'm going to work on this week and get ready [for the U.S. Open]."

One positive for DeChambeau was that he was pleased with his new $10,000 irons.

"Yeah, they felt pretty good," DeChambeau said of his new LA Golf Bad V3-W irons.

"I think there's more optimization at play, potential optimization at play, but it's a good start."

DeChambeau is priced up at odds of 7/1 second favourite to defend his U.S. Open title.

He pipped McIlroy to the post 12 months ago at Pinehurst.

McIlroy missed two short putts on the closing holes to hand DeChambeau a second U.S. Open win. 

The Northern Irishman has slipped down in the betting market as a result of some indifferent performances since his historic Masters triumph in April. 

McIlroy is available at odds of 12/1, which is third in the market. 

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler is a red-hot 5/2 favourite as he looks to land a fourth career major and a fourth victory in his last five starts.

Should Scheffler win the U.S. Open he will move one leg away from joining McIlroy in the career grand slam club. 

There will be a huge premium on long accurate drives at Oakmont this week, especially with the rough up and the greens running to 15 on the stimpmeter.  

Could be see more controversy at the U.S. Open like in past years? 

There often is at Oakmont.