Bryson DeChambeau reflects on ‘poignant moment’ with ailing dad at Masters

Bryson DeChambeau might not have shown much emotion last week with his ailing dad in the gallery at the Masters.

But there were tears for DeChambeau and his father, Jon, as the father watched his son at Augusta National. Jon DeChambeau has long suffered from diabetes and is in need of a kidney transplant.

“He always wanted to go to the Masters and be there, and for his kid to be playing the Masters was something special for him,” Bryson DeChambeau said Tuesday. “... I didn’t show it at all, because I was playing a golf tournament. But there were some poignant moments, and I looked over and thought it was really special.”

Jon DeChambeau is on dialysis and used a scooter to navigate Augusta National Golf Club. His son finished tied for 21st and this week will make his professional debut at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

On Tuesday, he announced deals with Puma, Cobra Golf and Bridgestone golf balls.

In addition to finishing as low amateur at the Masters, DeChambeau was the 2015 U.S. Amateur and NCAA champion.

World No. 1 Jason Day grouped with Snedeker, Haas

Jason Day, the top-ranked player in the world, will play the first two rounds with Bill Haas and past champion Brandt Snedeker.

The group will tee off on No. 1 at 12:50 p.m. Thursday and No. 10 at 8:10 a.m. Friday.

Day ascended to No. 1 after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational and World Golf Championships Match Play event in consecutive weeks in March. He tied for 10th at the Masters.

Five-time champion Davis Love III will tee off on No. 10 with Jason Dufner and past champion Matt Kuchar at 8:10 a.m. Thursday and No. 1 at 12:50 p.m. Friday.

Former Clemson golfers Kyle Stanley and Lucas Glover will play with Luke List, teeing off on No. 10 at 7:30 a.m. Thursday and No. 1 at 12:10 p.m. Friday.

Players Am champ Matt NeSmith passes on exemption

Players Amateur champion Matt NeSmith was not able to accept the Heritage exemption granted the winner. His University of South Carolina Gamecocks are playing in the SEC Championship this week on St. Simon’s Island, Ga.

NeSmith isn’t the first Players Am winner not able to play the big event. In the past, tournament director Steve Wilmot has honored some of the exemptions the next year.

NeSmith will graduate this year and presumably would turn professional some time after that. It would be Wilmot’s decision whether his exemption will be good next year.

Past Heritage champion Price named Presidents Cup captain

Nick Price, who won the MCI Classic here in 1997, has been named a 2017 Presidents Cup captain. The announcement came Tuesday.

Price will lead the International team opposite Steve Stricker, the U.S. captain. The event will be held at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J.

Price won 18 times on the PGA Tour, including three major championships.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 7:49 PM with the headline "Bryson DeChambeau reflects on ‘poignant moment’ with ailing dad at Masters."