News

USGA tells Bryson DeChambeau’s his compass violates Rule 14-3a

Published

8 years ago

Jul 6, 2018

Bryson DeChambeau’s use of a compass (in conjunction with his yardage book to find “true hole locations”) at last month’s Travelers Championship was initially a source of amusement in the social media sphere.

Then, the situation became anything but funny for DeChambeau himself, as the PGA Tour and USGA began a discussion about potential rules being broken and whether he ought to be able to continue to to use the device.

The PGA Tour had temporarily given DeChambeau permission to use the device while putting the ball in the USGA’s court. Yesterday, the USGA announced DeChambeau’s compass use is a violation of Rule 14-3a.

The USGA released a statement to GolfChannel.com: “At the request of the PGA Tour, the USGA and the R&A reviewed Bryson DeChambeau’s stated use of a drawing compass to assist him in determining ‘true’ hole locations, and jointly determined that his specific usage would be in breach of Rule 14-3, if used in a future round.

“The Rule prohibits a player, during a stipulated round, from using any artificial device or unusual equipment, or using any equipment in an abnormal manner, that ‘might assist him in making a stroke or in his play.’ Because a compass is not a usual piece of equipment in golf, and Bryson clearly stated that he had used the device to assist him, the USGA, R&A and the PGA Tour agreed it was in the best interest of the game to share this determination with Bryson immediately. In doing so before his next round, we have made every effort to assist Bryson in avoiding possible disqualification and provide clarity to the PGA Tour and other players in the field.”

According to Golf Digest’s Joel Beall writes, John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director of rules, competitions and equipment standards, spoke with DeChambeau for 45 minutes on July 3.

“With some of these sorts of devices, it can be difficult lines to draw on what’s permissible and what is not permissible,” Bodenhamer said. “But here, we drew the line there with Rule 14-3.”

The text of Rule 14-3a states

14-3. Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment; Abnormal Use of Equipment

Rule 14-3 governs the use of equipment and devices (including electronic devices) that might assist a player in making a specific stroke or generally in his play.

Golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player. This principle guides the USGA in determining whether the use of any item is in breach of Rule 14-3.

Except as provided in the Rules, during a stipulated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an abnormal manner:

a. That might assist him in making a stroke or in his play

This is DeChambeau’s second run-in with U.S. golf’s governing body. In 2017, the USGA ruled DeChambeau’s sidesaddle putter non-conforming.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

25 Comments

Pingback: Can PGA Players Use Rangefinders? (2022 Update) - fungolf.co.uk
Ell

Jul 9, 2018 at 4:14 pm

My required fields were marked!

Reply Report comment
Man

Jul 9, 2018 at 2:18 am

I will have a GPS tracker plugged into my brain that tells me from the Google maps GPS satellite where I am standing on the planet

Reply Report comment
Bob Parson Jr.

Jul 8, 2018 at 11:39 am

And the USGA wonders why their membership is in decline…..

Reply Report comment
Daniel Whitehurst

Jul 8, 2018 at 1:39 am

So he’s trying to find the true hole location. So he obviously found a discrepancy between the hole sheet and the actual location. So how is it an advantage if he finds the true location? It would be a disadvantage to not try to find it. Way to go USGA using common sense again in rules decisions. The next decision you make just do the opposite and all will be good. You’re welcome

Reply Report comment
Bruce Ferguson

Jul 7, 2018 at 7:57 pm

Whatever frivolous advantage in knowledge he might gain regarding the true hole location, he still has to make the shot. Excessive hair-splitting in the rules department, IMO.

Reply Report comment
Pete O'Tube

Jul 7, 2018 at 4:02 pm

Have a look at the putt, your first look is the best. Then just hit it for goodness sake. Bin the encyclopedias in the back pocket and GET ON WITH IT!!

Reply Report comment
Richard Douglas

Jul 7, 2018 at 10:44 am

There’s a prominent player on Tour who keeps a strip of white medical tape on a particular finger. This shows the player where his hand is on the grip. This sort of alignment tool for the grip is against the rules, yet this player’s use of it has been tolerated for more than 2 decades.

Reply Report comment
- Daniel Whitehurst
  
  Jul 8, 2018 at 1:34 am
  
  If your referring to Tiger you couldn’t be more wrong. 1 he does that because that’s his high pressure point on his right hand and 2 not 1 good player with a good grip or pro needs a piece of tape on his hand to tell him where to grip the club, gimmie a break . That’s why they “allow it”. Plus grips come available with ridges up the back called reminders.
  
  Reply Report comment
- OninTwoDowninOne
  
  Jul 8, 2018 at 2:22 am
  
  Richard…yep. What an Richard comment. A pro needs tape on a finger to determine hand placement, does it work for you?
  
  Reply Report comment
Josh

Jul 7, 2018 at 1:33 am

BAN GREEN READING BOOKS THEN TOO

Reply Report comment
Wiger Toods

Jul 6, 2018 at 8:57 pm

Also, did no one call them out for the awful quote, “…it can be difficult lines to draw on what’s permissible…”

Jerks.

Reply Report comment
Wiger Toods

Jul 6, 2018 at 8:56 pm

I hope he ties two pencils together. This is an absolute crock. Bryson, get a super-bendy two sided pencil!!

Google “Bencil”

Reply Report comment
Brad

Jul 6, 2018 at 6:57 pm

The USGA hates Bryson Dechambeau. They hate that he is playing well and will take every opportunity to undermine him anyway they possibly can. If Tiger Woods wanted to use an abacus and measuring tape on the greens they would probably allow him to do so.

Reply Report comment
- Man
  
  Jul 6, 2018 at 7:59 pm
  
  No, they wouldn’t, so stop stroking his c
  
  Reply Report comment
JN

Jul 6, 2018 at 5:31 pm

No looking at the sun either!

Reply Report comment
Fingers

Jul 6, 2018 at 4:15 pm

So is it now illegal to walk off yardages if a person knows what a 1 yard stride is or if someone wants to get real technical and their shoe is exactly 12″ are they banned from using that as a measuring device too? Im asking for a friend…. And does plumbobbing fall under this measuring device rule too?

Reply Report comment
Roy

Jul 6, 2018 at 4:07 pm

So a book that details every possible break in the green is legal, but 2 6 inch metal sticks stuck together are not???

Reply Report comment
Jeff

Jul 6, 2018 at 2:50 pm

This is just silly. The USGA is tripping. You still have to putt the ball. If a protractor is a helpful with green reading, putting stroke or getting my ball started on line then I would understand the ban but come on.

Reply Report comment
Ray

Jul 6, 2018 at 2:38 pm

There goes my green lantern secret decoder ring and my use of the North Star…seems the USGA can prohibit any and everything with the language unusual…they are as ridiculous as the NCAA…

Reply Report comment
Jamie

Jul 6, 2018 at 12:53 pm

Guess we won’t get to see the gyroscope to measure the earth’s rotation. Whew! A few hundred people would have laughed themselves to death.

Reply Report comment
Adam

Jul 6, 2018 at 12:41 pm

Why do I have the feeling DeChambeau is/was trolling the USGA just to see what their idiotic response would be?

Reply Report comment
- Richard Douglas
  
  Jul 7, 2018 at 10:47 am
  
  This is an excellent observation/speculation. I still haven’t heard what the real use of this object is–saying it’s for locating pin locations is an inadequate (and nonsensical) explanation.
  
  The only problem with this hypothesis is that it would take a very long time for anyone at the USGA to wake up and notice its use; Bryson would have to troll them for quite some time. Hard to imagine spending time on a practical joke when he’s trying (and succeeding) to win tournaments. Still….
  
  Reply Report comment
JJD

Jul 6, 2018 at 12:31 pm

Next up… star charts.

Reply Report comment
Brian

Jul 6, 2018 at 10:10 am

I’m surprised DeChambeau hasn’t brought in survey equipment at this point.

Reply Report comment

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2026 PGA Championship betting odds

Published

2 days ago

May 12, 2026

Gianni Magliocco

Scottie Scheffler leads the betting ahead of the second major championship of the year, with the World Number One a +345 favorite to get his hands on a second PGA Championship.

Rory McIlroy who won the Masters back in April is a +800 shot to complete half of the calendar slam at Aronimink Golf Club this week, while Jordan Spieth can be backed at +5900 to become a career grand slam winner.

Here is the full betting board for the 2026 PGA Championship courtesy of DraftKings.

Scottie Scheffler +345 – (Check 0ut his WITB here)

Rory McIlroy +800 – (Check out his WITB here)

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Cameron Young +1500
Bryson DeChambeau +1700
Xander Schauffele +1850
Matt Fitzpatrick +1950
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Adam Scott +6400
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Ben Griffin +8000
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Chandler Blanchet +150000
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Joe Highsmith +180000
Adam Schenk +200000
Travis Smyth +200000
Davis Riley +225000
Martin Kaymer +400000
Brian Campbell +400000
Padraig Harrington +450000
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Jordan Gumberg +450000
Ryan Vermeer +500000
Austin Hurt +500000
Tyler Collet +500000
Timothy Wiseman +500000
Shaun Micheel +500000
Y.E. Yang +500000
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Mark Geddes+500000
Luke Donald+500000
Bryce Fisher+500000
Jimmy Walker +500000
Jason Dufner +500000
Jesse Droemer +500000
Jared Jones +500000
Garrett Sapp +500000
Francisco Bide +500000
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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.