ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 20: Amateur Bryson DeChambeau of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 20, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Bryson DeChambeau, 22, will begin his professional career this week at the RBC Heritage. Although announced Tuesday, the deal was likely completed a while ago.
In 2015, DeChambeau became the fifth golfer in history to win both the NCAA Division I Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year. He is also the most recent athlete to sponsor the Cobra and Puma brands, with whom he signed a long-term endorsement deal for clubs and apparel. He will also play at RBC Heritage using a Bridgestone golf ball and use that company’s gloves.
DeChambeau tied for 21st at the Masters last weekend, and has since drawn much attention as he prepares to play at least seven PGA Tour events this year.
“These past six months were preparing me for this week and my future,” DeChambeau said. “This transition should be fairly easy. I wouldn’t say it’s going to be that easy, obviously, because there’s obstacles thrown in your way. But we’re trying to make it as seamless and easy as possible.”
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DeChambeau recently did a great impression of Bill Murray’s character Carl Spackler from the movie Caddyshack.
The youngster will play next week’s Valero Texas Open, the AT&T Byron Nelson, Colonial, Memorial, Quicken Loans National and the Travelers Championship in an attempt to earn enough FedEx Cup points to secure Tour status.
“There’s a lot of talk when you turn pro and there’s a lot of pressure on yourself as well,” said Colt Knost, who turned pro after a similarly solid amateur career that included victories at the 2007 U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links. “He’s got seven starts or whatever to come out here and get a job or he’ll have to go to Q-School and spend a year on the Web.com Tour.”
ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 20: Amateur Bryson DeChambeau of the United States hits his tee shot on the eighth hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 20, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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