Bryson DeChambeau posted a 3-under 67 at Royal Birkdale to silence the critics after three consecutive major cuts.
It's been a tough 2026 for two-time major league champion Bryson DeChambeau. Although he won twice at LIV Golf in March, his big performance will define his season.
And those results were not good. At all. DeChambeau, for the first time in his career, missed the cut at three consecutive majors: the 2026 Masters, the PGA Championship and the US Open.
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But you're only as good as your last round, and DeChambeau finally has some momentum in 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 a good position to at least make the cut and re-enter the majors.
DeChambeau had never shot par in any of his six major rounds in 2026, so it was far and away his biggest round of the year. He played in the same set as world number 1 Scottie Scheffler and finished one shot better than Scheffler.
DeChambeau has flashed a long game that has helped put him in the conversation as one of the best players in the world. With Royal Birkdale dry, DeChambeau took advantage and played aggressively off the tee. Despite hitting just 5 of 14 fairways, the 32-year-old American was second in the field in strokes gained off the tee following the morning wave.
Bryson DeChambeau tees off on the 14th hole in the first round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
In 2024 and 2025, DeChambeau finished in the top 10 in six of his eight majors, including wins at the 2024 US Open and runner-up finishes at the 2024 and 2025 PGA Championships.
He was discussed in the same interview with Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as one of the best golfers in the world.
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But with LIV Golf's future up in the air, DeChambeau has commented that he may not return to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf closes and instead focus on YouTube golf.
Former players and golf commentators raved about DeChambeau's comments, saying that his focus on YouTube golf over professional golf had contributed to his massive performance.
Bryson DeChambeau shot a 3-under 67 in the first round of the Open Championship after missing out on the Masters, PGA Championship and US Open in 2026. (Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images)
Going into the Open Championship, Nick Faldo said DeChambeau had “no strategy”.
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Brandel Chamblee continued: “It's almost as if he went from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. [YouTube golfer] Grant Horvath. It's like you want to outdo everyone in golf instead of beating everyone in the golf game. “
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DeChambeau, who usually gets the press after his rounds, declined to speak to reporters after Thursday's game.
But, at least for one day at the Open Championship, DeChambeau looked more like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy than Grant Horvat.
Whether he can keep it up remains to be seen.
