Bryson DeChambeau’s secret to US Open success: Floating his golf balls in Epsom salt

The best athletes break all sorts of new ground in pursuit of greatness, looking for that extra tiny percent that can propel them above their rivals. For Bryson DeChambeau that extra kick might be found in the most surprising of places – Epsom salt.

The best athletes break all sorts of new ground in pursuit of greatness, looking for that extra tiny percent that can propel them above their rivals. For Bryson DeChambeau that extra kick might be found in the most surprising of places – Epsom salt. After taking control of the US Open with a captivating third-round performance on Saturday, the American elaborated on his habit of salting his golf balls before playing, just another aspect of his analytical approach to the game which has earned him the nickname of “The Scientist.” “I put my golf balls in Epsom salt,” he told reporters. “Essentially we float golf balls in a solution to make sure the golf ball is not out of balance.” His manager, Connor, was in charge of salting the golf balls, DeChambeau explained, to find out “how much out of balance” they were. “There’s always going to be an error, especially when it’s a sphere and there’s dimples on the edges,” he added. “You can’t perfectly get it in the center.” The heavy side of the golf ball sinks to the bottom, DeChambeau - a physics major - said, and then “we mark the top with a dot to make sure it’s always rolling over itself.”