Bryson DeChambeau shuts down golf reporter after disaster start to The Masters

Bryson DeChambeau appeared to shut down a golf reporter who inquired about his use of a 3D-printed 5-iron after struggling on day one of the 2026 Masters. 

DeChambeau, 32, came into the first men's major of the year as one of the pre-tournament favourites. 

But the two-time U.S. Open champion endured a brutal start to major season at Augusta National on Thursday, slumping to an opening four-over 76. 

DeChambeau, who led after 18 holes 12 months ago, was level par through the first 10 holes but unravelled at Amen Corner. 

His drive at the 11th found a greenside bunker and the American needed three shots to get out. 

DeChambeau responded with four consecutive pars, dropped another shot at the 16th, made birdie on 17 but dropped another shot at the last. 

The closing bogey saw him trudge off the 18th trailing early leaders, Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns, by nine shots. 

Despite being visibly frustrated, DeChambeau still met with a group of reporters after his round. 

But he wasn't really in the mood for chatting. 

"Everybody has an ability for weird things to happen,” DeChambeau said. 

"And today I just did not have my irons under control, which is weird."

Asked about the devastating triple, DeChambeau replied matter-of-factly: "Bunker was softer than I anticipated."

Another subject he didn't really want to talk about was his use of a 3D-printed 5-iron that he has put into his bag this week. He is also building his own driver. 

DeChambeau explained he only hit the club once, off the tee, at the seventh hole. Data from the official Masters hub revealed that travelled 258 yards. 

"Good," DeChambeau said when asked how the club was treating him. 

Asked about the process, DeChambeau said: "Prints in eight hours. Machines, they're three or four hours. 

"Then you have to cut grooves in it and do a bunch of other stuff. So you can have something within a day and a half."

Asked whether it would be possible to have new one of these irons in the bag for the weekend, DeChambeau cut the conversation short. 

"That's a longer conversation," he said. "It's not for here."

And off DeChambeau went to the tournament practice facility. 

Watch the exchange here:

DeChambeau wasn't the only LIV Golf recruit to struggle on day one. 

Tom McKibbin, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Carlos Ortiz, Cameron Smith and Tyrrell Hatton are in danger of missing the cut. 

Sergio Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion, finished on level par. 

DeChambeau tees off at 18:20 BST on Friday.