Amateur Bryson DeChambeau outshines McIlroy and Spieth

Bryson DeChambeau shot a memorable 64 to snatch the lead from a seasoned field at the Abu Dhabi Championships

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Bryson DeChambeau shot a memorable 64 to snatch the lead from a seasoned field at the Abu Dhabi Championships

January 21, 2016: Promising American amateur Bryson DeChambeau stunned the star-studded field at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship as the 22 year old self-professed “golf scientist” moved into the first round lead courtesy of an eight under par 64.

Playing in his first regular European Tour event, the reigning US Amateur Champion carded seven birdies and an eagle en route to taking a one-shot advantage over Swede Henrik Stenson and spoke afterwards of his unorthodox approach to playing the game – all of his irons are the exact same length.

Four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy was a shot further back alongside South Africa’s Branden Grace on six under par, while his American playing partners Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler registered rounds of 68 and 70, respectively.

“It’s a great way to start the year. I felt in practice last week in Dubai that I was swinging well and I really came back mentally refreshed and really excited to play again,” gushed McIlroy.

“I think that showed out there today. I was really excited to get going, especially playing in a group like that, first round of the year. So couldn’t be happier. I’ve played well here. Just haven’t been able to get the victory. Hopefully I can change that this year, and to start with a win here to start the season would be fantastic. So fingers crossed I can play like that over the next three days.”

“Today was pretty good. I had no expectations coming into today and just free wheeled it and pretty much hit every fairway and was able to make a couple putts,” said DeChambeau.

“It’s nice to kind of be an intern as an amateur playing professional events. I’m getting used to and getting more comfortable each event. It’s fun, a lot of fun being out here.

“My clubs are all single length, same length, same lie angle, same shaft. Just different loft. Same bounce configuration, as well, on each and every one of them'” added the American prospect. “I’m a golfing scientist, in a sense, and I’m trying to analyse and understand each and every aspect of the golf course and the way I played, as well. I’ll analyse today and see what I can do better at tomorrow and we’ll go from there.”

Stenson, meanwhile, gave further credence to the adage “beware the injured golfer” as the current Race to Dubai leader signed for a seven under par 65 in his first competitive round since undergoing surgery on his knee in December.

“It’s a great start, best start I’ve had here in years – ever, possibly. I’m happy with the putting and the short irons were really good,” said Stenson, who is one of only eight golfers to have played in every edition of the Abu Dhabi Championship. “A couple of tee shots maybe not so good, but all in all, I kept the score together and played a really good opening round.”

“The knee feels good. I’m hitting shots with no bother and walking is really the issue. But not so much for the knee; more for the foot and the hip I would say,” added Stenson. “I made Dubai my home for almost ten years and feel very comfortable in this part of the world. I played some great golf, so it would mean a lot to win.”

“I didn’t drive the ball well, which is really the key out here. So to shoot four-under with the way I felt with my driver is spectacular. I’m very pleased with that. I need to play the par fives better. I had 85 yards into two of them, played them one over on our back nine, the front nine, and that’s a perfect number for me. I’m normally looking to make a four,” said Spieth.

“I feel like I scrambled pretty well for the majority of the round, and then a couple wedge shots just really hurt me from making it a great round.”

Scores:

64 B DeChambeau (am) (USA) ,
65 H Stenson (Swe) ,
66 B Grace (RSA) , R McIlroy (Nir) ,
67 R Bland (Eng) , A Sullivan (Eng) ,
68 N Fasth (Swe) , J Spieth (USA) , T Bjørn (Den) , D Howell (Eng) , M Fitzpatrick (Eng) ,
69 T Pieters (Bel) , G Coetzee (RSA) , B An (Kor) , S Dyson (Eng) , W Ashun (Chn) , M Kaymer (Ger) , P Hanson (Swe) , J Luiten (Ned) , T Fisher Jnr (RSA) , P Edberg (Swe) , M Baldwin (Eng) , M Korhonen (Fin) , W Ormsby (Aus) , J Carlsson (Swe) , R Paratore (Ita) , D Brooks (Eng) , S Kjeldsen (Den) ,
74 S Kapur (Ind)

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