Masters leader Bryson DeChambeau uses irons made from a 3D PRINTER … and they were first approved for use at Augusta by the USGA on Monday

Bryson DeChambeau’s Masters lead after the first round has incredibly come with the help of 3D-printed irons, which were first approved for use at Augusta this week.

Nicknamed ‘The Mad Scientist’ for his near-obsessive attention to golf’s margins, DeChambeau parted ways with Cobra-Puma Golf last year and eventually partnered with a small clubmaker called Avoda, as noted by Golf week.

The 30-year-old’s new single-length irons were only approved by the USGA on Monday, and have been described by the golfer himself as allowing him to be ‘more comfortable over the ball.’

The clubs, which reportedly had to be 3D printed in the interest of time, were deemed to have too narrow grooves last week before they were changed to meet USGA standards.

‘I put on new irons this week. I think it’s a pretty big change, he told reporters on Thursday. “And used this new driver, 3-wood and 5-wood,” he said. “So pretty much my whole bag is different since the Greenbrier last year and the putter is the only thing that’s stayed the same.”

He leads the field after the first round with a 7-under-65 score at Augusta National

DeChambeau – nicknamed ‘The Mad Scientist’ – has always seemed to succeed on the margins

His long-time coach, Mike Schy, also told Golfweek: ‘The faces have a bump on them, they’re exceptional.’

‘What happens if you hit it on the toe? It hangs a lot, doesn’t it? What happens if you hit it on the heel? It cuts a lot. When you have bolts, it makes up for it.’

DeChambeau appears to be enjoying his new clubs as he opened the Masters with a 7-under-65 in the first round.

Using 3D-printed clubs isn’t the first time DeChambeau has looked for advantages where his competitors don’t.

According to Independenthe has researched ‘calculations of barometric pressure’ and ‘decrease of spin rate at altitude’ to gain an advantage in hitting the ball.

DeChambeau cut his weight last year after previously bulking up in a massive way

DeChambeau also underwent a hugely significant body transformation ahead of the 2020 season.

The golfer said he ate about 3,500 calories a day to add 50 pounds to his frame and become the most powerful driver in the world during the 2019-20 season, with an average distance of 322.1 yards.

That ridiculous power helped him win the 2020 US Open, but DeChambeau then struggled with injuries and slipped down the rankings – leading him to return to a leaner physique last year.

He revealed that he lost 18kg in 24 days after receiving a wake-up call from doctors about his health.