AUGUSTA, Ga. — Just two days ago, Bryson DeChambeau looked like he might become the first amateur to win the Masters.
He’ll have to settle for the honor — in his final tournament as an amateur — of being the low amateur at this year’s Masters.
DeChambeau stumbled on the final hole of his second round, taking a triple bogey on 18, and he never recovered to make a run up the leaderboard. His final-round 72 on Sunday left him at 5-over for the tournament.
“First and foremost, I was tired [Sunday],’’ DeChambeau said. “I didn’t manage my energy very well beginning this week and that’s just experience. I wish I could change that and I think I’d be in a different position now.’’
The next time DeChambeau plays a Masters — presuming he does — he’ll do so as a professional.
“The only thing I would change is how I spent my time resting, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,’’ he said. “Unfortunately I messed up and, you know what, I’m 22, I’m still young and learning how to manage my time. That’s the one thing that I think I’d change.
“Ultimately, my body took a toll this week and my hip. I really haven’t talked about it too much, but my hip gave out the second round, on 15, and ultimately led me to pull those two shots [on 18]. I wouldn’t say that’s the full reason, but at the same time, it did affect me. It was unfortunate, but again, it’s a learning experience.’’
Smylie Kaufman, playing in his first Masters, began the day one shot behind 54-hole leader Jordan Spieth and playing in the final pairing. He’ll cherish the experience, but not the 81 he shot Sunday.
“Obviously, I’ve never felt something like that before,’’ Kaufman said. “I think I got in my own head a little bit. I didn’t do a great job with close reaction and I think I got in my own head a little bit with the putter. But everything else is awesome. I loved the atmosphere, it was cool. It’s something I think I’ll thrive in one day.’’
As his game went south, Kaufman said he began rooting for Spieth to win and, of course, had a front-row seat for his meltdown on No. 12.
“I was really cheering for Jordan as a buddy, and it’s unfortunate what happened,’’ Kaufman said. “It just kind of stunk to watch it. It looked like he just came out of (his tee shot on 12) a little bit. There was a couple of swings where he just came out of it a little today, but he putted unbelievable.
“If he had putted for me, I would have had a great day.’’
There were a record three aces on the 16th hole Sunday — the first from Shane Lowry, next from Davis Love III and then Louis Oosthuizen, whose shot hit J.B. Holmes’ ball and rolled into the hole.
“I just stood up and I’ve been hitting good shots most of the day and hitting my targets also, so it was a fairly easy shot,’’ Lowry said. “I felt I just hit a perfect shot right at the flag and obviously needed luck to go in the hole. I’m fairly happy and I’ll put that picture up in my house and it will be a nice memento to have.
“Obviously, it was amazing to have a hole-in-one on 16 around here in the final round. I just wish I would have been able to come up with more birdies, but it was a perfect shot.’’
Lowry faked throwing the ball into the gallery and, of course, kept it.
“No, I wasn’t giving the ball away,’’ he said. “My last hole-in-one in competition, my parents were there as well, actually, and it was in Dubai and I still have the ball from that. So I feel like I’ll keep that one.’’
Love, the Ryder Cup captain, said his was the fifth or sixth hole-in-one of his career.
“I saw my ball pitch in a good spot to have a chance and then I saw J.B.’s ball and I thought, ‘Oh, there goes the chance of a one,’’’ Oosthuizen said. “And then I just really watched the crowd and walking up there I could see one was in there obviously really close and the other one is in. So I was just hoping that it was my ball that was in and not J.B.’s because then neither of us would have a hole-in-one (by rule), he would have had to move his ball back.’’
Paul Casey and Matthew Fitzpatrick shot the low rounds of the day with respective 5-under-par 67s.