Bryson DeChambeau finishes Masters as low amateur

Bryson DeChambeau struck his putt with perfect pace and pumped his fist as the 15-footer dropped into the cup for a birdie at the 18th hole Sunday.

It was the final shot of a successful amateur career for the 22-year-old native of Clovis, Calif. He shot 72 to finish at 5-over par – earning the silver cup as the low amateur at the Masters.

“I honestly don’t have any words right now to describe how grateful I am to have that honor. It’s kind of choking me up because I never thought I would be here,” said DeChambeau, who will turn pro at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town next week. “To do it on Bobby Jones’ golf course is something else. It’s an honor that will stay with me forever and I’ll never forget this day.”

He earned a Masters invitation by winning the U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields last summer. He was the fifth player to win NCAA and U.S. Amateur titles in the same year – the others were Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ryan Moore.

The birdie on No. 18 was a perfect way to end the week for the former Southern Methodist star. He had gone 5-over at the hole over the past two rounds.

DeChambeau greeted a long line of family and friends before addressing the media.

He embraced his father, Jon, who watched the round from a motorized cart with his right foot in a boot. Jon DeChambeau has problems with his kidneys and pancreas and is awaiting a kidney transplant.

“He hasn’t seen a golf tournament since the U.S. Amateur,” DeChambeau said. “He hasn’t been able to see me play, quite honestly, at all through college. So for him to be here for this moment is special and it chokes me up.”

DeChambeau showed his scrambling skills on the back nine, getting up and down from the right bunker at No. 15 for birdie. He made a fine bunker shot into the slope of the green at the 16th, as the ball settled eight feet below the hole to set up a par save.

At No. 17, he made a 30-yard pitch from the back of the green and drained a 15-footer to save another par – setting the stage for the closing birdie. His approach on No. 18 was at the back of the green as he walked up.

“It started trickling down as I walked up,” DeChambeau said. “It was pretty exciting to see the ball come down, and to make that putt to end my amateur career was pretty special.”

The other amateur to make the cut was Romain Langasque, and he finished his final round with a flourish. The 20-year-old from France birdied four of the final five holes to shoot 31 on the back nine on his way to 68. He finished in a tie for 39th at 10-over par.

He plans to turn pro and play in a European Challenge event in Egypt in two weeks.

Langasque hit his approach on No. 14 to four feet and converted for birdie. On the 15th, he blasted a hybrid in from 250 yards to 12 feet, and just missed the eagle putt.

At No. 16, Langasque flew the green but chipped in from 36 feet for another memorable birdie. He closed out the round by draining an 18-foot birdie putt on No. 18.

“It was just an amazing finish for me, it was really good,” said Langasque, who qualified as the winner of the British Amateur at Carnoustie. “I realize I made a good decision to play the Masters because there are no tournaments like this one. I really want to come back.”