Bryson DeChambeau shot a three-under-par 67 in the first round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, leaving him two strokes off the lead. The American, who has missed the cut in all three majors in 2026, responded subtly to criticism from six-time major winner Nick Faldo, who had said DeChambeau has "zero clue of strategy."
DeChambeau's Silence and Response
DeChambeau declined to speak to the media after his round, instead providing brief comments to tournament organisers. He said: "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." He added: "I think you've got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course. I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super-hard on placing it in the right places." This was seen as a subtle swipe at Faldo, who from his television booth claimed he had "rattled the cage" of DeChambeau.
Jackson Suber Surprises as First-Round Leader
The first-round lead belongs to Jackson Suber, a 27-year-old American playing his first European event. Suber shot a 65, including a back-nine 31, to sit at five under par. "The golf is really cool," said Suber. "And the towns, how the train system works." He is one shot ahead of Im Sung-jae and Dan Brown, who both shot 66.
DeChambeau's Equipment and LIV Golf Future
DeChambeau has new irons in his bag and switched his driver, having previously manufactured his own. His LIV Golf future remains uncertain, with rumours that he is desperate to stay on the circuit despite the potential withdrawal of Saudi Arabian funding. Credible backers are reportedly looking at a scaled-down but functioning LIV from 2027.
Other Notable Performances
Tyrrell Hatton, who played with DeChambeau, shot 69 and said: "It shouldn't surprise anyone. He's an amazing player. He flights the ball great." Rory McIlroy struggled with his putter, finishing at two over par, but remains optimistic. Scottie Scheffler was four under after six holes before slipping back to two under. Henrik Stenson, the 2016 winner, and Collin Morikawa are also at two under. Shane Lowry shot 69, while Justin Rose's 75 leaves him facing a battle to make the cut.
Pace of Play Concerns
The round took more than five and a half hours for the group of DeChambeau, Hatton, and Scottie Scheffler. Hatton commented: "Can you imagine if we had bad weather? It would be even longer. I don't know how the pace of play gets better."
