And he had already been thrown into the fire in the stroke play part of the Amateur, being paired with Jon Rahm.
“I had friends who texted me before they said, ‘Do you know who he is? He’s the number one amateur in the world. So I thought, OK, great. But the experience was great. Jon was a very friendly guy, we talked a lot. But he was also a hot guy who could release his emotions and come back from it and I really loved him as a competitor, “Salomon recently told PGATOUR.COM. “I sensed what level of golf was needed under pressure. Towards the end of the stroke play, Jon made two crucial bird putts from outside 30 feet to make it to the playoffs (for last places in the match-play bracket). It was amazing. “
Salomon had beaten Rahm by one shot to reach the knockout stage. Again, his friends started texting him when his opponent was on schedule.
“Now it was, ‘Do you know who this guy is? He is the NCAA champion. He’s the guy with the funky swing. ‘I was excited for the match. I was thinking that I can’t wait to see this guy on the field, “Salomon recalled recently.” I come to the shooting range and think, who is this guy? Look what he’s wearing, look at that swing, look at those clubs. But he was pushing balls down the range. I knew I was up for a challenge. “
But Salomon still didn’t expect DeChambeau to win six consecutive holes from fifth to tenth, nor was he ready for the deliberate play and intense analysis that DeChambeau brought to his game.
“That day I played my B or C game in the 12 holes I played, but he played amazingly and had five birdies. He just tore me down, “says Salomon.” It was a great learning experience for me. In that round I was taken so far from my element and my style of play. Bryson was obviously very analytical. … He was a great contrast to Jon. Bryson was very different on the golf course. Not so friendly, all the work, and I respect that. He tore that place apart. He was playing like a US Open course and he made it look easy. “
Next up was NeSmith, who took cent in this season’s FedExCup. NeSmith had qualified for the US Open earlier that year and started the US Amateur with a 65 in the first round. DeChambeau won six of the first eight holes of their game. He made five birds and no bogeymen on the first nine.
DeChambeau met another future PGA TOUR player, Maverick McNealy, later that day. McNealy was consensus college player of the year in 2015, winning both the Haskins and Nicklaus awards. McNealy also had a good history at Olympia Fields, winning the prestigious Olympia Fields Intercollegiate the previous year (he would keep repeating even a month later). McNealy, who is 67th in the FedExCup, joins DeChambeau in this week’s field.
The McNealy game may have been the toughest of the week for DeChambeau. They were tied after DeChambeau made it through the tenth hole, but he won no. 11, 13 and 14.
DeChambeau had played a match in all nine USGA amateur events he had played, but this was only the second time he made it to the quarterfinals. He also did this on the 2014 US Amateur Public Links.
His opponent in the quarter-finals was Paul Dunne, who had received a special invitation to the championship after his incredible performance at The Open Championship in St. Andrews. Dunne held the lead of 54 holes before fading in 30th place after a final 78th round.
