Bryson DeChambeau in contention after father gets kidney transplant
Bryson DeChambeau has struggled since earning his PGA Tour card last year on the Web.com Tour Finals. Heading into this week, in his last five starts he had missed the cut in four of his last five starts, withdrawing from the Genesis Open with a hand injury in the other. DeChambeau changed putting styles for the second time this season and got a new caddie.
Something changed this week outside the ropes, however, that may have been the catalyst to end that skid: DeChambeau’s father got a needed kidney transplant.
DeChambeau’s father Jon has diabetes, and in 2014, both of his kidneys failed. He’s been on dialysis and hemodialysis while waiting for a live transplant. That happened on Wednesday thanks to the donation of a high school friend.
“It’s been a long time coming,” DeChambeau told Golfweek, “and I’m just happy that he’s going to be healthy and going to be able to come out and watch me play, because he hasn’t been able to these past two to three years.”
The 2015 U.S. Amateur champion followed an opening 4-under 67 with 70 on Friday, and he trails Adam Hadwin by five shots heading into the weekend. DeChambeau seems convinced that the changes in his game, his health and his father’s health have him playing some of the best golf of his life.
“It is the best it’s been since college, I can tell you that, since I won the NCAAs and U.S. Amateur,” Bryson said, according to Golf World. “I think it’s almost better than that now.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
