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
2015 U.S. Amateur and 2020 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau, left, shares a moment with Ben James after James won his match in a playoff on hole 19 during the round of 16 of the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
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.”
Bryson DeChambeau makes par at No. 7 to stay 5 up during the finals of the 2015 U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club. Photo by Tracy Wilcox/Golfweek
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.”
2015 U.S. Amateur and 2020 U.S. Open Champion Bryson DeChambeau signs golf balls for fans attending the round of 16 of the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023. (Kathryn Riley/USGA)
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.”
Bryson DeChambeau holds the Theodore A. Havemeyer trophy after beating Derek Bard 7&6 in the final match of the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship at Olympia Fields Country Club on August 23, 2015, in Olympia Fields, Illinois. Photo by Jeff Haynes/Getty Images
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.”
Bryson DeChambeau on the 2nd tee during the final round of the LIV Golf event at The Old White Course. (Photo: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
“I plead the fifth on that.”
Bryson DeChambeau of team United States celebrates on the first green during Sunday Singles Matches of the 43rd Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits on September 26, 2021, in Haven, Wisconsin. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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.”
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