OB Sports Golf & Leisure

l TOUR REPORT OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE x FALL 2016 x obsports.com With his brother, George, as the other half of the act, they became even better known than a fistful of PGA Tour cham- pions. Still, Wesley Bryan aspired to more. He decided to cut back on the mini-tour grind and lucrative exhibitions and devote himself to playing better. He survived three stages of Web.com Tour qualifying in 2015, then went out and won three times on that tour in 2016, earning him the automatic "battlefield" promotion to the PGA Tour. His relentlessly positive attitude, ex- perience in the spotlight and prowess with the flatstick (talk about putt for dough – in mid-September, Bryan was leading the Web.com Tour in putting av- erage and money winnings) could lead to big things on the big Tour. Another ex-college great that I see doing great things on the PGA Tour is Bryson DeChambeau. Outside of perhaps Jason Day and Jordan Spieth in 2015, no male player exuded more confidence – OK, cocki- ness – in 2015 than DeChambeau, who as an SMU junior captured both the NCAA individual title and then romped to a 7 & 6 win to claim the U.S. Amateur. The Clovis, Calif., resident joined only Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Ryan Moore in achieving that rare double. After placing as low amateur at the 2016 Masters, he turned pro and tied for fourth at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town. Following a T15 at the U.S. Open, he seemed a shoe-in for a PGA Tour card. And then he slumped. Badly. Suddenly the Hogan cap and the unique club set makeup (all irons and wedges cut to the same length, with identical lies and bounce angles) didn't seem so fascinating. A few lean months humbled DeChambeau and made him hungry again. He turned up at the Web.com Tour's first playoff event at historic Can- terbury in Cleveland – and won it. Most believe DeChambeau has the talent and temperament to succeed. Now he believes again. New Venues, New Questions A few spreads make their PGA Tour debuts in 2017 and a few old favorites come back with altered personalities. Most widely anticipated is Wiscon- sin's Erin Hills, host to the U.S. Open. If you thought Chambers Bay featured wild and chaotic links-like terrain dur- ing the 2015 U.S. Open, wait 'til folks get a gander at Erin Hills. Measuring nearly 8,000 yards from the tips, this 2006 design from Michael Hurdzan, former partner Dana Fry and Golf Digest architecture critic Ron Whitten, played host to the 2011 U.S. Amateur, where 18-year-old Jordan Spieth squandered a 2-up lead to lose his quarterfinal match. Doral's Blue Monster, currently a Trump property, will be absent from the PGA Tour for the first time since 1961. Filling its early March dates is the WGC-Mexico event, ironically enough played at Club de Golf Chapultepec, in Mexico City. The classic, tree-lined track < Trick shot prowess from Wesley Bryan and his brother, George. >>>

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