Bryson DeChambeau Debut Successful, Finishes T4
As debuts go, Bryson DeChambeau has enjoyed a very succesful one.
Bryson DeChambeau collected low amateur honors at the Masters. Then he turned the page to his professional career at the RBC Heritage. In his debut week, he finished T4, earning a significant amount of money ($259K) in his quest to become the latest golfer to get to the PGA TOUR without playing the Web.com.
As beginnings go, this one was solid. His scores of 70-69-72-68, for 5-under par on a course with tight fairways and windy conditions, put him ahead of 71 players, all of whom are veterans of PGA TOUR tournament play. Who did he beat? Jason Day. Zach Johnson. Matt Kuchar. Bill Haas. And more.
“I putted a lot better than the last few days,” he said to media after his Sunday round. “It was definitely fun to see some putts go in.”
He had just 107 putts for the week, with all rounds below 30 putts.
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“Unfortunately, my driver was kind of giving out today,” he said about the final round. “I’ll definitely work on that for next week.”
He hit 27 of 56 fairways and 41 of 72 greens. The second stat is not surprising given Harbour Town Golf Links’ small greens and the gusty winds all week.
The best news for DeChambeau, who will play this week’s Valero Texas Open, is that his top 10 finish at the RBC Heritage means he won’t have to use one of his special exemptions to play the Valero Texas Open. A top ten finish means a player can enter the next regular PGA Tour event no matter what.
But he insisted it was not about that.
“I think it’s more about winning championships and doing my best out there each and every shot,” he said. “If I can accomplish that, that’s all that matters.”
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He may think that’s all that matters, but it’s actually more important for him to get his status secured. If he has no status, there are no championships to play. Just ask anyone trying to get to the PGA TOUR.
DeChambeau said he has no goals right now other than trying to execute shots under pressure. He executed on some this week, and missed on others.
For instance, in the final round, he hit a tree with his drive on 11 and did not reach the green in regulation, but he was able to make par with a chip and a putt. And on 12, he was over the green with an approach from the fairway, resulting in bogey. He bounced back with a 13-foot putt at the 13th hole for birdie.
“I had a couple of mishaps this week, but that’s golf,” he explained. “I’m definitely going to learn from it. Hopefully I can capitalize on those mistakes next week.”
One intangible a high finish gives a golfer is a confidence boost.
“More and more confidence each and every week. Twenty-first last week. Top 10 this week,” he said. “Hopefully next week I can get it done.”
As far as an assessment of the week inside and outside the ropes, he said it was an honor to compete on the PGA TOUR.
The crowds adored Bryson DeChambeau, through the rain and wind and sun.
“It’s been incredible around here,” he said about the galleries. “I’m trying to be as nice to them as possible, because they’re really what makes this whole process possible. It wouldn’t be possible without them. It is about the fans.”
Next: Valero Texas Open Power Rankings
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