INCHEON -- When he wasn't busy prepping for the first LIV Golf tournament in South Korea this week, American star Bryson DeChambeau was signing autographs and spending time with fans in the golf-crazed nation. By his own estimate, DeChambeau must have signed "upwards of a couple thousand now, for sure,"
Often referred to as a man of the people, DeChambeau wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's great. The Korean fans out here have been fantastic. Nothing but super sweet and nice," DeChambeau said after taking a share of the first-round lead at LIV Golf Korea with a seven-under 65 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, some 30 kilometers west of Seoul.
"It's definitely appreciated when I come to a new place for the first time and see the amount of fans wanting an autograph, kids lighting up. That's what makes my day. It's certainly awesome, and that's why I play the game of golf."
DeChambeau is known to high-five fans even during the crucible of a major championship. For the final round of this year's Masters, DeChambeau was paired with the eventual champion, Rory McIlroy. Even as he was falling out of contention, DeChambeau made sure to acknowledge fans between holes at Augusta National Golf Club, while McIlroy tried to stay locked in and barely made eye contact.
"I can only speak for myself. I can't speak for Rory. What I can say about myself is that I genuinely care about the game of golf, and growing it globally and inspiring a bunch of people and kids, especially kids, to play this great game," DeChambeau said.
"So it's my duty, as not only a professional golfer, but a bit of an entertainer, to interact and be as authentic as I possibly can be with myself and with my fans. I think it's my responsibility to do so. I'll continue to keep doing that because that's what I believe in." (Yonhap)
