CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. — Only three players have ever won a U.S. Amateur, NCAA individual championship and U.S. Open: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Bryson DeChambeau.
DeChambeau won the NCAA title at SMU in 2015. A couple months later, he went to Olympia Fields outside of Chicago and captured the U.S. Amateur in his fifth appearance. Then in 2020, he won his first major title at Winged Foot in New York.
However, in 2012, DeChambeau teed it up at Cherry Hills Country Club, site of this week’s U.S. Amateur, in his second appearance in the championship.
DeChambeau was back on property Thursday afternoon, taking in some of the action from Round of 16 matches. He signed autographs, took pictures and followed around a few groups. He even hit a couple of shots with a persimmon driver from the Arnold Palmer tee on the first hole, where Palmer famously drove the green in the final round en route to winning the 1960 U.S. Open.
U.S. Amateur: Photos from Cherry Hills
After watching Ben James beat David Ford on the 19th hole, he took some time to speak with Golfweek about the U.S. Amateur, Ryder Cup and more.
Persimmon Challenge with @b_dechambeau!
The 2015 #USAmateur champion had a go at replicating Arnie's tee shot on the first hole at Cherry Hills. pic.twitter.com/57iTVAzEVf
— USGA (@USGA) August 18, 2023
Golfweek: What do you remember about the course?
Bryson DeChambeau: “You have to hit it straight, and you have to hit your irons really well. And the greens were diabolical. And I remember it was a very strategic golf course. It was a special place. It has been a while, but I always remember how beautiful it was.”
GW: What does it mean to see your picture holding the trophy around the property?
BD: “It’s cool to be a part of history. Like I think that’s why a lot of us play the sport, not only for the potential opportunities when you’re professional, but also the history and how much the game of golf has meant to relationships and what it does for relationships moving forward. I think that it’s more than money, it’s more than fame. It’s a lot about relationships as well. And I think that’s what the U.S. Amateur and the USGA does a great job of is highlighting that. The amateur aspect of it, it’s fantastic. It’s great to be a part of.”
Why is it important for you to come back?
BD: “It’s fun to know where you’ve been, where you’ve come from and the emotions I had back then, how nervous I was. I have empathy for these guys. I’ve lost four times and I won the U.S. Amateur once, so I understand the defeat, the power of defeat and the grace of victory. It’s a cool thing. When you lose, for me I felt empowered. ‘I had it, I can do it, I can keep going.’ And then when I won, it was so humbling just to feel that and be a part of the Masters and really what gave me this passion.”
What do you remember from your win at Olympia Fields?
BD: “I remember how dominant my mindset was. I was hitting it well, I was playing well. Obviously won the NCAAs earlier that year, but I had equipment that was working very well for me and I just felt like I was in this bubble moving forward. It was this train that couldn’t be stopped.”
You recently switched drivers. Have you thought about any other changes?
“I plead the fifth on that.”
Saw a post saying you hadn't spoken with Zach Johnson recently. Is that true?
BD: “It is true. I talked to him at the PGA (Championship) a little bit. He said, ‘Good luck, play well man. Rooting for you.’ After that, nothing.
“But I don’t expect anything. I’ll be rooting them on if I’m not there. And if I do so happen to get the opportunity to play, I’m there for Team USA and I’m going to give it my full-force effort.
“Problem is, I understand the position that they don’t see us playing enough, so it’s kind of difficult to make a decision, I get that. But at the end of the day, it is what it is and I’ll be rooting for Team USA no matter what.”
