Amateur DeChambeau Leads the Way in Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

American amateur Bryson DeChambeau stole the limelight from golf’s big guns Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy on his European Tour debut, seizing a first-round lead at the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship on Thursday. He was told on the ninth tee that he had incurred a “monitoring” penalty under a new system that went into place this week and announced to players on Tuesday.

Less inspiring and no fun whatsoever was the ridiculous manner in which Spieth fell foul of the convoluted new rules the European Tour have instigated in an effort to speed up play. A second monitoring penalty would bring an announced fine of just less than $3,000 for Spieth. The money would hardly inconvenience Spieth, but he wants neither the notoriety nor the distraction.

The Northern Irishman added: “I was surprised Jordan got a bad time on a putt when the guys behind weren’t even approaching their balls back on the fairway”.

“(The efficiency of the round) wasn’t surprising to me”, he said.

“I’m just growing in confidence and belief every single day, ” said DeChambeau, who is regarded as one of the hottest young players in the sport after also winning the US Amateur and NCAA titles in 2015.

McIlroy concurred, sticking up for his playing partner. Sometimes we need to apply some common sense, especially when we are not out of position.

Let us applaud the Tour for trying to do something about slow play, of course. Jordan almost took me out – we collided halfway down the fairway.

Paramor later defended the ruling, and explained that Spieth might be confused because of a different interpretation on the PGA Tour. “So that was one of the reasons why I took this step”.

McIlroy stopped a run of pars by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt at the eighth and narrowly missed out on another at the last, as Spieth carded two birdies over his final four holes to close a four-under 68.

He could hardly credit being within two of McIlroy.

“It was a ball-striking masterclass”, he said.

“I’m sure there are very few players who have been working harder than he is to make this season his best season yet – and that is scary.

To tee up alongside those guys – it’s excitement.” said McIlroy.

Spieth won the tournament by eight strokes, and, as the 22-year-old Texan continues to draw comparisons to Tiger Woods, he insists he is more concerned by the challenge of McIlroy.

“But I never really write those down because they are always there”, McIlroy said. So to shoot 4- under with the way I felt with my driver is spectacular. “I could not be happier”.

You would think the same of DeChambeau, but this disciple of Ben Hogan can not be judged so straightforwardly.

But with his iron play on song, the 39-year-old Swede had absolutely no trouble throughout the day.