Young amateur leads the way after day one

After a brilliant opening round of 64, 8-under par, a young amateur golfer led the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship (21-24 January) in the United Arab Emirates. The 22-year old American answers to the beautiful name of Bryson DeChambeau and, rather unusually, plays with irons all fitted with the same length shaft.  Why not, if that’s what you feel comfortable with and can shoot rounds of 64 in mega-big tournaments?

 

The inspired choice of irons for the US Amateur Champion, who is playing in his second European Tour event, saw him produce a polished back nine of 32 to match his front nine.  An impressive performance by the young amateur which included 7 birdies, an eagle and a bogey.   His 64 matches the lowest Amateur round ever recorded in European Tour history.

 

DeChambeau, rated as 644th in the world going into the tournament, led a class field in Abu Dhabi, which included world number one Jordan Spieth and Europe’s reigning number one Rory McIlroy, by one stroke. Henrik Stenson (Sweden) was hot on his heels in second place.

 

It was fellow American, 27-year old Rickie Fowler, however, who went on to win the event which was hampered by fog early on Friday and Saturday causing many players to complete their third rounds on Sunday morning. Fowler won his second European Tour title in great style.  Dutch and Belgian golf fans had cause for celebration too.

 

Wendy Hoad

 

 

Pictured: Bryson DeChambeau.

 

 

You can read more about the thrill and excitement during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship by checking out: “Golfing Inspirations/Blog/Proost Joost!