DeChambeau shoots 67 at Open, two shots behind leader

Bryson DeChambeau delivered a strong opening round at the 2026 Open Championship on Thursday, July 16, shooting a three-under 67 at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. The performance placed him two shots off the early lead and marked a significant rebound after missing the cut at the season's first three major tournaments.

DeChambeau's round, which included five birdies against two bogeys, came just weeks after he posted a somber video online analyzing his recent struggles. His play also followed pointed public criticism from six-time major champion Nick Faldo, who said on a podcast that DeChambeau had "zero clue of strategy" on links courses. After his round, DeChambeau appeared to respond indirectly to that critique, telling an interviewer he felt he "did a really good job of being incredibly strategic" and that his "strategy was nice today."

The American golfer did not hold a traditional press conference after completing his round, continuing a pattern of avoiding open media sessions at majors this year. Instead, he provided comments through a pre-arranged interview with a representative from the R&A, golf's governing body for the Open. This approach drew criticism from...