DeChambeau Makes First Pro Cut at Harbour Town
He’ll play the weekend at Harbour Town but there’s more work ahead for Bryson DeChambeau before he gets that TOUR card.
Bryson DeChambeau is on his way. Most known for his same length clubs, his hat and winning the U.S. Amateur, DeChambeau has taken the plunge into professional life and made his first cut on the PGA TOUR at the RBC Heritage Classic.
DeChambeau signed his card, took off his cap, a red one, and handed it to a fan. One little boy waiting for an autograph with a friend was wearing a “Bryson DeChambeau” style cap. No doubt about it, DeChambeau is going to be five people deep along the autograph lines, and it appears he’s looking forward to it.
Asked about the treachery of the wind expected tomorrow, he just said with a huge smile, “This is fun. This is what I love to do.”
With his amateur status in the rear view mirror, DeChambeau faces the uncertainty of playing in a limited number of events on sponsor’s exemptions.
“It is playing for money, but again, I’m just out here trying to win some championships,” he said to assembled media after round two.
Earlier this week, he announced an apparel deal. He’ll be with Cobra Puma Golf. They will do a special cap logo for him. He had previously signed with Bridgestone Golf for balls (B330-S) and glove.
Where he can play in the future, however, is subject to PGA TOUR regulations, which are established to protect the regular members. The rules for number of events he can play include playing in majors, which technically, are not TOUR run events but are co-sanctioned by the TOUR, and they include getting sponsor exemptions for regular PGA TOUR events.
Bottom line, he can get seven sponsor exemptions and play in 12 events. The Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Masters count as two of the 12 events, but they do not count against his seven sponsor exemptions.
RBC Heritage does count as a sponsor exemption. So he has nine events left, six of which are sponsor exemptions.
Regarding his upcoming schedule, he said, “Playing next week and the week after that. Then going to the Wells Fargo.”
He is not qualified for the Players, unless he wins Valero Texas Open, the Zurich Classic or the Wells Fargo Championship, where he has the sponsor exemptions. When he finishes those, he will have three sponsor exemptions left and six tournaments left to earn enough money to get a temporary PGA TOUR membership.
He can play the Mastercard Colonial Invitational because they reserve a spot for the most recent amateur champ, but he will play as a pro. The same applies at The Memorial. He will then have four more chances to make enough money for temporary PGA Tour card before invitations expire. He will have three special exemptions left. No doubt the HP Byron Nelson will offer him one.
His goal is to make enough money quickly so that he can get a special temporary Tour membership which will allow him unlimited exemptions. However, with the compressed season, due to the Olympics, it is a big ask for him to get what he needs. Should DeChambeau be as fortunate and as good as Jordan Spieth was in his early pro career, he may make it to the PGA TOUR for 2017.
DeChambeau watch has officially started. And his competition? Take a look at the young guns.
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