In a golfing world of uniformity and convention, DeChambeau brings an approach to the swing and equipment that is unique in the modern game.
Furthermore, it seems to work. The 22-year-old is the reigning US amateur champion, becoming only the fifth man to land that prestigious title and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) individual crown in the same year.
Competing against pros, he was runner-up to Peter Senior at last year's Australian Masters. Last week DeChambeau was the first-round leader after an opening 64 in Abu Dhabi, where he eventually finished in a share of 54th place.
The Californian says he is doing a form of internship before turning pro once he has competed at the Masters in April. He will be one of the most talked-about players in the Augusta field.
DeChambeau calls himself "a golfing scientist". He is a physics major and has evolved a game that hinges around those unique irons that so fascinated McIlroy when they played together in the third round last week.
Competing against pros, he was runner-up to Peter Senior at last year's Australian Masters. Last week DeChambeau was the first-round leader after an opening 64 in Abu Dhabi, where he eventually finished in a share of 54th place.
The Californian says he is doing a form of internship before turning pro once he has competed at the Masters in April. He will be one of the most talked-about players in the Augusta field.
DeChambeau calls himself "a golfing scientist". He is a physics major and has evolved a game that hinges around those unique irons that so fascinated McIlroy when they played together in the third round last week.
Throughout the bag, each iron is 37 and a half inches long, whether it is a three-iron or a wedge. He wields them with the same upright swing, wrapping his palms around chunky grips rather than using his fingers to hold the club.
"They're all the same length," DeChambeau told BBC Sport. "Same lie angle, same shaft, just different loft. Same bounce configuration as well on each and every one of them.
"But it's four degrees of loft difference between them and it works pretty well. It helps me keep my same posture, same set-up, same everything, and allows me to perform quite nicely with my irons."
The idea came from a book called 'The Golfing Machine', self-published by Homer Kelly, a Seattle aircraft mechanic, in 1969.
Californian golf instructor Mike Schy came across the book and was intrigued by Kelly's theory surrounding "geometric oriental linear force" and the impact it could have on a golf ball.
It also appealed to the scientist in DeChambeau.
"He's steadfast," the player's mother Jan told Golf Digest magazine. "Once something is proved to him, he stands his ground."
That determined streak comes from his father John, who was once one of northern California's top amateur golfers.
The younger DeChambeau collaborated with his coach to refine the Golfing Machine to suit his game.
"We thought there has to be a better way to play golf," he told me.
"It's a long story, but to keep it short I pretty much chose this variation of the golfing machine where it allowed me to swing on the same plane.
"They're all the same length," DeChambeau told BBC Sport. "Same lie angle, same shaft, just different loft. Same bounce configuration as well on each and every one of them.
"But it's four degrees of loft difference between them and it works pretty well. It helps me keep my same posture, same set-up, same everything, and allows me to perform quite nicely with my irons."
The idea came from a book called 'The Golfing Machine', self-published by Homer Kelly, a Seattle aircraft mechanic, in 1969.
Californian golf instructor Mike Schy came across the book and was intrigued by Kelly's theory surrounding "geometric oriental linear force" and the impact it could have on a golf ball.
It also appealed to the scientist in DeChambeau.
"He's steadfast," the player's mother Jan told Golf Digest magazine. "Once something is proved to him, he stands his ground."
That determined streak comes from his father John, who was once one of northern California's top amateur golfers.
The younger DeChambeau collaborated with his coach to refine the Golfing Machine to suit his game.
"We thought there has to be a better way to play golf," he told me.
"It's a long story, but to keep it short I pretty much chose this variation of the golfing machine where it allowed me to swing on the same plane.
