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From no clue and no strategy to no explanation. Who or what is eating Bryson DeChambeau? Maybe the coming days will reveal all. Then again …
A fine and widely unexpected start to the 154th Open Championship was not sufficient to alter DeChambeau’s uncommunicative approach towards anybody who may not be inclined to tickle his tummy. Following a fifth major round in a row, DeChambeau declined the opportunity to speak to eagerly assembled media. One once so garrulous has lost his tongue.
There was plenty to ask. Nick Faldo, who knows a thing or two about the claiming of the Claret Jug, asserted before an Open ball was struck. “I’d say it to his face, DeChambeau has zero clue of strategy,” Faldo said. Ouch.
DeChambeau appears to have new irons in his bag, having previously revealed he was manufacturing his own. He has switched his driver. LIV Golf, DeChambeau’s domain, remains a key talking point. Range chatter at Birkdale is that DeChambeau is desperate to remain with the circuit despite the imminent removal of Saudi Arabian cash. Credible backers are said to be looking at a scaled-down but functioning LIV from 2027.
Pieced together and when added to a 67, which placed him just two from the Open lead, there is much for DeChambeau to opine on.
Instead, his silence reflects poorly not only upon the 32-year-old himself, but also the underlings who form part of his “team”.
Should he object to Faldo’s opprobrium, DeChambeau can take that up directly with the six-time major winner. Instead, there were only bland words given to the tournament organisers by way of box ticking.
“It was a hard fought battle out there,” said DeChambeau. “The wind was switching quite a bit. It was fun seeing the fans going at us and they were rooting for all of us. It was fun just seeing the ups and downs of the group, but we all played pretty well. It was a lot of fun.
“There’s some driving holes out there I’ve got to work on. Other than that, I played really well. Made some good putts and three-putted once but that’s life.”
Indeed it is, Bryson. So, too, when a sportsman of DeChambeau’s standing, is the public handling of tricky times. What followed was perhaps – one is left to speculate – a subtle swipe at Faldo.
“I think you’ve got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course,” DeChambeau said. “I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super-hard on placing it in the right places.” Faldo, rather enjoying the scene, claimed from his television booth that he had “rattled the cage” of DeChambeau.
Tyrrell Hatton, who played in DeChambeau’s company, scoffed at the notion that the American’s prominence here is in any way a shock. Not only is DeChambeau’s Open record patchy but he has missed the cut in the three majors completed thus far in 2026.
“It shouldn’t surprise anyone,” said Hatton, who signed for a one-under 69. “He’s an amazing player. He flights the ball great. His ball flight today was really good. He didn’t really hit many bad shots. As I said, he’s an amazing player and it shouldn’t really surprise anyone that he’s doing well.”
A dropped shot at the last nudged DeChambeau out of what at that stage was a share of the lead. The Californian’s second shot flew over the 18th green, from where he under-hit a chip. DeChambeau had only reached four under par a hole earlier. Im Sung-jae and Dan Brown remained there, only to be usurped by Jackson Suber. This marks Suber’s first visit to Europe. “The golf is really cool,” said Suber.
“And the towns, how the train system works.” News of potential industrial action on the railways at the weekend has not reached the Open debutant. Suber’s inward half of 31 was superb. He probably/surely/certainly cannot win but should enjoy these 15 minutes of fame.
In a congested field, DeChambeau has eight players for leaderboard company. Bob MacIntyre, Francesco Molinari, Cameron Young and Thomas Detry are among them. The morning provided the softer side of the draw on day one. Even then DeChambeau, Hatton and Scottie Scheffler took more than five and a half hours to complete the round.
“Can you imagine if we had bad weather?” Hatton said. “It would be even longer. I don’t know how the pace of play gets better. It’s obviously a big field. The par-fives were reachable.”
Rory McIlroy, who finished his round as shadows lengthened, endured early woes with his putter. Frustration was seeping out of McIlroy. The Masters champion’s hooked approach to the 17th from knotty grass, preceding a miscued pitch, rekindled that sentiment. Fortune favoured a brave McIlroy approach to the last, setting up a birdie. McIlroy is far from out of it at two over. He will, though, want to sprint from the gates on Friday morning.
Scheffler was four under after six before sliding back to minus two. Henrik Stenson, the 2016 winner, is on the same score, as is Collin Morikawa. Shane Lowry scrapped hard for his 69.
Justin Rose’s Thursday was notable and not for positive reasons. A 75 means the Englishman faces a battle to make the cut in a tournament he was heavily fancied for. A double bogey at the 11th summed up Rose’s woes. Links golf; a fickle beast. It can involve fickle characters.
