Dubai: Golf’s hottest prospect Bryson DeChambeau is looking to take confidence from recent rounds of 64 and 65 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and Abu Dhabi Invitational, ahead of this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
The 22-year-old amateur became only the fifth golfer since Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore to win both the NCAA and US Amateur titles in a single season last year. He is now on the road gaining experience ahead of a possible leap into professional golf after April’s Masters, for which he has an invite.
That journey started well at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship two weeks ago where the Californian astonishingly led after the first round with an opening 64 before finishing tied for 54th with follow-up rounds of 72, 78 and 72.
He also shot a superb 65 to theoretically win the Abu Dhabi Invitational on Sunday, but didn’t qualify for the victory because he’s still an amateur.
All in all, it puts him in good stead for his third UAE foray in just two weeks, at Emirates Golf Club from Thursday.
“It gives me great confidence, no doubt, to shoot a low number like that, and I know I can do it,” he said. “It’s just a matter of staying in the moment and staying in your rhythm and getting your job done. You have to go out there and execute.
“Unfortunately my mindset has not been in the best frame of mind, and we’re working on that, figuring out how to deal with some different things. If I can get that past me and work on focusing on the next shot in hand, I think I can do pretty well,” he added of a disappointing 67th place finish at the Qatar Masters last week, where he shot rounds of 73, 70 and two 74s.
“For the past four or five weeks, I’ve literally been on the road travelling. It’s been a long journey and I’m definitely sensing when I’m breaking down. Last week [in Qatar], I stopped playing my best, just because I got a little tired. I’m hopefully going to be ready for this week.
“I know I will get some rest in this week, but I see these break off points where I can play and when I’m not able to perform my best. We’re learning that aspect, and that’s really going to help in the Masters, figuring out when I can play, when I can’t, and how to get ready.”
Of the pressure that comes with so much expectation on young shoulders, he added: “I never thought I would win the NCAAs and US Amateur in the same year. That’s just something I never dreamed of. And with that comes a lot of attention, and we’re working through that. I’m getting better at it. I wasn’t very good at first. But I’m getting better and it’s a lot of fun.
“Pressure is put on yourself. It’s something I try not to do. It [the amateur double] is obviously a great feat but I’m not focusing on that. I’m focusing on the journey, the process, every single shot I’m trying to hit the next best shot.
“If I can only focus on that, then the rest will take care of itself. But if I think, oh wow, I’ve done this and I want to do that, I’m going to lose sight of what’s really important and that’s playing the next shot at hand.
“So I’m looking forward to putting my game up against the best in the world and seeing where I kind of fit in now and from that experience. I’ll definitely learn where I am and where I need to be for the Masters. So it’s great preparation,” he added.
