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Bryson DeChambeau wasted no time severely damaging his chance to win back-t0-back majors. On the first hole of the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland on Thursday, the 2024 U.S. Open winner — who rolled it so beautifully at Pinehurst No. 2 — three-putted for bogey.
Things didn't get better from there for the LIV Golf star. At least, for the next 14 holes.
DeChambeau hit a wayward tee shot on the par-4 3rd and settled for another bogey.
“[The wind] was in and off the right, and I was trying to draw the ball and the ball was knuckling a little bit,” he said. “It was a really difficult challenge, and I should have just cut the ball.”
Alarmingly, the most powerful driver in golf managed to bogey both par 5s (Nos. 4 and 6) — in both cases because his inaccurate drives found the unforgiving fescue off the fairway. His second shot on the 620-yard sixth, deeply embedded in the rough, moved just five feet.
“It's a completely different test,” DeChambeau said. “I didn't get any practice in it, and I didn't really play much in the rain. Yeah, it's a difficult test out here, something I'm not familiar with. I never grew up playing it, and not to say that that's the reason. I finished eighth at St Andrews [in 2022]. I can do it when it's warm and not windy.”
On the short, 123-yard par-3 8th — the “diabolical” hole, per DeChambeau, named the Postage Stamp for its narrow green — missed the landing strip as crosswind pulled his tee shot left. (He was fortunate to escape with a 4.)
“It can be a difficult challenge,” DeChambeau said about links golf on Tuesday at his pre-tournament press conference. “It's a challenge. I think that's what's so great about links golf and Open Championship, and what it provides is a different test — to try and figure out and get an A on, I guess you could say.”
The two-time major champion saw his opening round score balloon up to +7 after a bogey on the par-4 15th. At long last, the real Bryson DeChambeau stood up on the par-5 16th, as he bombed his way to an much-needed eagle — his first hole in the red in Scotland.
An eagle at the 16th for Bryson DeChambeau.
Will this lead to a change in momentum? pic.twitter.com/rVkWXXIdww
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2024
After a par save on no. 17, the Crushers GC captain used his final opportunity to hit his most major majestic drive of the day. That's more like it.
Bryson DeChambeau hits a 406-yard drive on 18. pic.twitter.com/8w7C2DlNrn
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 18, 2024
All in all, DeChambeau fired a 6-over 42 on the front nine — which, because of wind direction, is considered far friendlier than Royal Troon's homestretch. DeChambeau's clutch eagle salvaged a 1-under 34 on the back nine.
For the round, a 5-over 76, DeChambeau only hit 8/14 fairways and 8/18 of greens in regulation — key metrics at Royal Troon.
“Look, I've played well on strategic golf courses in the past,” he said Tuesday. “So I think I'm pretty solid at it, but overpowering this golf course, I don't know if it's possible.”
DeChambeau was far from the only star to struggle on the links.
Rory McIlroy (+7) — looking to avenge his heartbreak to DeChambeau at the U.S. Open — double-bogeyed the Postage Stamp and Royal Troon's second iconic hole, the brutal par-4 11th, named The Railway. (DeChambeau managed to save par).
DeChambeau's playing partners, presumed contenders Ludvig Aberg (+4) and Tom Kim (+5), lost their opening bouts to Royal Troon, as well. The group will get the afternoon time on Friday, teeing off at 9:48 a.m. ET.
It should be fascinating to see how DeChambeau, et al. adjusts.
Ahhh, major championship golf.
