SOUTHPORT, England — Bryson DeChambeau, seeking to reverse a difficult 2026 major campaign, posted a 3-under 67 in the first round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. The performance marks his best major round of the year, following a difficult stretch where he missed the cut at the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open.
A Return to Form at Royal Birkdale
DeChambeau’s opening round provided a significant momentum shift. Playing alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the 32-year-old American finished one shot ahead of the defending Open champion. For much of the day, DeChambeau held a share of the lead before a bogey on his final hole brought his score to 67.
The round highlighted the aggressive, long-game approach that previously established DeChambeau as a top-tier player. While he hit only 5 of 14 fairways on the dried-out Royal Birkdale course, he leveraged his length to rank second in the field in strokes gained: off the tee following the morning wave. Prior to this round, DeChambeau had not shot under par in any of his six major rounds during the 2026 season.
Context of a Challenging 2026 Season
The 2026 season has been defined by a stark contrast between DeChambeau’s LIV Golf performance and his results in majors. While he secured two victories on the LIV circuit in March, his failure to qualify for the weekend in three consecutive majors marked a career first. This slump followed a successful two-year period in 2024 and 2025, during which he achieved six top-10 finishes in eight major starts, including a win at the 2024 U.S. Open and runner-up finishes at the 2024 and 2025 PGA Championships.
DeChambeau’s recent focus on his growing YouTube brand has drawn scrutiny from analysts and former players. Comments regarding his potential future in YouTube golf, should the LIV Golf tour face instability, prompted criticism from figures such as Brandel Chamblee, who suggested the focus on digital content may have impacted his competitive performance. Ahead of the Open Championship, Nick Faldo also criticized DeChambeau, stating he “has zero clue of strategy” and questioning his approach to links golf.
For more on this story, see Scottie Scheffler Leads Field as 154th Open Championship Begins at Birkdale.
Trophy Cabinets and Tournament Pressure
As the field competes at Royal Birkdale, discussion among players has touched on the management of major championship trophies. Scottie Scheffler, who recently returned the Claret Jug, described his trophy storage as a “golf room” that currently requires organization. Wyndham Clark, currently building a home, keeps his trophies on his dining table, while Aaron Rai noted that his Wanamaker Trophy is kept at his father’s house.
Rai, one of 21 English players in the field, addressed the pressure of competing for a major on home soil. No English player has won the British Open at an English venue since Tony Jacklin in 1969. Rai remarked that while major championships carry an inherent level of pressure, he attempts to maintain the same perspective he brings to every tournament week.
Looking Ahead
DeChambeau, who has frequently made himself available to the media throughout his career, declined to speak with reporters following his first-round 67. Despite the criticisms regarding his strategy and recent form, his opening performance has placed him in a position to potentially contend for the championship. Whether he can sustain this momentum through the remainder of the tournament remains the primary question for the remainder of the week at Royal Birkdale.
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