Bryson DeChambeau makes Open Championship move after Nick Faldo ripped game apart
Bryson DeChambeau makes Open Championship move after Nick Faldo ripped game apart
Sam Frost Fri, July 17, 2026 at 9:49 AM UTC
1
Bryson DeChambeau was clearly unimpressed by the criticism that had come his way (Image: Getty)
Bryson DeChambeau chose to bypass interviews with both television and print media following his strong opening round at The Open Championship.
The two-time U.S. Open champion entered the week at Royal Birkdale under considerable scrutiny, having failed to make the cut at any major this season. Despite sharp criticism from the likes of Sir Nick Faldo and Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee in the lead-up to the tournament, DeChambeau answered his detractors emphatically, carding a three-under-par 67 to sit just one stroke behind the clubhouse leader.
The performance could have been even more impressive, as DeChambeau squandered multiple opportunities on the greens to push further under par following a birdie-birdie opening. Elsewhere,DeChambeau delivered a perfect response to Open Championship heckler.
Nevertheless, the LIV Golf star has much to celebrate after delivering a well-timed demonstration of his abilities, outperforming playing partner and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who endured a turbulent day on the links.
Despite his promising start, DeChambeau had no intention of addressing reporters gathered in the mixed zone. An R&A official conveyed the message that the 32-year-old would not be fielding questions from broadcasters or journalists.
The American began with a strong opening round (Image: Getty)
Instead, DeChambeau spoke exclusively with The R&A's own media team, stating: "It was a hard-fought battle out there. 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.
Advertisement
"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."
He continued: "Any time you get off to a great start, it's awesome, but there are three more days, dude. There's still a lot of golf to be played. But ultimately, from my perspective, I was really excited about the way I played. I'm having a lot of fun. If I can keep it going and give the crowd something to cheer for on Sunday, that's all I can ask for."
The galleries were firmly behind DeChambeau. Paired with Scheffler and the local favorite, they received an enthusiastic welcome from spectators. While he once struggled to win over fans in this region, his massive social media following has transformed him into one of golf's most prominent figures.
One fan erupted in excitement when his club choice indicated the power-hitting DeChambeau was targeting the green on the drivable par-four fifth.
Whatever doubts he harbored following his disappointing showings at the Masters, PGA Championship and U.S. Open vanished quickly with a scorching opening round, though he'll rue several missed birdie opportunities.
His face showed frustration as makeable putts slid past on holes three and five, and he appeared incredulous after a cruel lip-out on the eighth. However, these were opportunities he failed to create for himself in earlier majors this season; his performance seems significantly improved following the hard work put in since his second-round struggles.
Source: “AOL Sports”
