It’s been a tough 2026 for two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau. Although he won twice at LIV Golf in March, his big performance is what will define his season.
And those results have not been good. At all. For the first time in his career, DeChambeau missed the cut in three consecutive majors: the 2026 Masters, the PGA Championship and the US Open.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU ADMITS HE TURNED TO AI TO HELP FIX HIS GAIT AFTER FIGHT IN LIFE GOLF KOREA
But you’re only as good as your last round, and DeChambeau finally has some momentum going into 2026. In the first round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, DeChambeau shared the lead until he bogeyed his final hole.
Bryson DeChambeau waves to the crowd during the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Oisin Keniry/R&A)
Still, he managed to shoot a 3-under 67, putting himself in good position to at least make the cut and potentially contend for a major again.
DeChambeau hadn’t shot under par in any of his six major rounds in 2026, so it was far and away his best major round this year. Playing in the same group as world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, he finished one shot ahead of Scheffler.
DeChambeau flashed the long game that helped vault him into the conversation as one of the best players in the world. With Royal Birkdale dried up, DeChambeau took advantage and played aggressively off the tee. Although he hit just 5 of 14 fairways, the 32-year-old American was second in the field in strokes gained: off the tee after the morning wave.
Bryson DeChambeau tees off on the 14th hole during the first round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
In 2024 and 2025, DeChambeau finished inside the top 10 in six of his eight major starts, including a win at the 2024 US Open and a pair of runner-up finishes at the 2024 and 2025 PGA Championships.
He was discussed in the same conversation as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as one of the best golfers on the planet.
ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
But with the future of LIV Golf up in the air, DeChambeau made comments suggesting he might not return to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf were to shut down and instead focus on YouTube golf.
Former players and golf analysts began looking into DeChambeau’s comments, saying his focus on YouTube golf rather than competitive professional golf affected his big performances.
Bryson DeChambeau shot a 3-under 67 in the Open Championship first round after missing the cut at the 2026 Masters, PGA Championship and US Open. (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
Heading into the Open Championship, Nick Faldo said DeChambeau “has no idea about strategy”.
GOLF LEGEND NICK FALDO READS FLAMING CRITICISM OF BRYSON DECHAMBEAU AMID MAJOR TOURNAMENT MATCHES
Brandel Chamblee piled on: “It’s almost like he went from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to chasing [YouTube golfer] Grant Horvath. It’s like he wants to outdo every YouTuber in the game of golf instead of outdoing everyone in the game of golf.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
SIGN UP FOR THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS
DeChambeau, who usually makes himself available to the media after his rounds, declined to speak to reporters after Thursday’s performance.
But for at least one day at the Open Championship, DeChambeau looked a lot more like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy than Grant Horvat.
Whether he can keep it up remains to be seen.
