DeChambeau, 22, made history last year when he became only the fifth player to win the US Amateur Championship and NCAA Division I individual title in one season, joining Jack Nicklaus (1961), Phil Mickelson (1990), Tiger Woods (1996) and Ryan Moore (2004).
DeChambeau’s US Amateur victory earned him starts in this year’s first three Majors – the Masters Tournament, US Open and Open Championship – and two more PGA Tour events in June.
However, the Californian is currently focused on his visit to the Middle East, where the US$2.5 million Commercial Bank Qatar Masters from January 27 – 30 sits at the heart of The European Tour’s three-week ‘Desert Swing’.
“I’m really looking forward to my debut at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters. The list of champions has a lot of big names like Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia, so I’m excited to play there and compete with top European Tour players,” said DeChambeau, who usually wears a flat cap while playing.
“It was so special to follow the NCAA win with the US Amateur title. Later, I was able to compete in tournaments all around the world and now I’m starting 2016 by continuing to travel to new countries. It’s a very exciting period of my life and my career, so I’m looking forward to every new experience and making the most of it.”
Last June, DeChambeau became the first golfer from South Methodist University to win the NCAA men’s title when he beat Pan Cheng-tsung of Taiwan by one stroke at the Concession Club in Bradenton, Florida.
Later that month he progressed through US Open qualifying, finished 45th on his PGA Tour debut at the FedEx St Jude Classic and played in his first Major at the US Open at Chambers Bay in Washington, missing the cut.
In August, he won the US Amateur by downing Derek Bard 7 & 6 in the match play final at Olympia Fields Country Club in Illinois, while in September, he was the only American to remain unbeaten as Great Britain and Ireland won the Walker Cup in England.
His travels continued in November when he competed in the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s Argentina Open in Buenos Aires and then twice in Australia. He finished joint runner-up in the Australian Masters in Melbourne and joint-30th in the Australian Open in Sydney, where Jordan Spieth and Adam Scott were among the star names.
In Doha, DeChambeau will compete against many of The European Tour’s top players, including defending champion Branden Grace, former winners Henrik Stenson (2006) and Sergio Garcia (2014), and 2009 runner-up Louis Oosthuizen, winner of the 2010 Open Championship.
Hassan al-Nuaimi, President of the Qatar Golf Association, said: “It’s very exciting for us to announce that we’ll be welcoming Bryson DeChambeau to the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters for his tournament debut. He joined some of the greatest golfers of all time with his achievements in the amateur game last year and I’m among many looking forward to seeing him compete against many of the world’s top pros.”
Arrested Development replace Simple Minds for Friday concert
Double Grammy award-winning hip-hop group Arrested Development have been announced as the new headline concert for the evening of Friday, January 29, at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters after organisers confirmed that Simple Minds will no longer be performing at the event.
The Atlanta-based hip-hop pioneers are expected to wow the weekend crowds at Doha Golf Club with hits from their iconic back-catalogue including the anthemic songs, Tennessee, Revolution (from the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s Malcom X) and Mr Wendal.
In 1993 Arrested Development became the first ever hip-hop group to receive the “best new artist” Grammy award, as well as the award for “best rap single”. Their album, 3 years, 5 months and two days In The Life of, sold over 4 million units, with singles from that maiden voyage playing like a soundtrack in the lives’ of so many people worldwide.
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters organisers - the Qatar Golf Association (QGA), Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Commercial Bank – are expecting to welcome thousands of visitors to Doha Golf Club from January 27 – 30 for another exciting weekend packed with world-class golf and family entertainment. Families will have the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere at gourmet pop-up restaurants, indulge in the shopping boulevard with a wide selection of merchandise on sale and enjoy a myriad of activities in the family zone.
