DeChambeau Fires Back at Critics with Stunning Performance After Major Meltdown

Liberty Check

• Two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau silences critics with a 3-under 67 at Royal Birkdale after missing three consecutive major cuts
• Golf establishment figures rushed to criticize DeChambeau’s YouTube content creation and question his competitive focus
• DeChambeau outperformed world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in their Thursday pairing, proving doubters wrong

Two-time major champion Bryson DeChambeau delivered a resounding answer to his critics Thursday at Royal Birkdale, posting a 3-under 67 in the first round of the Open Championship. The performance marks a dramatic turnaround for the 32-year-old American who endured an unprecedented slump earlier this season.

For the first time in his professional career, DeChambeau missed the cut at three consecutive major championships in 2026: the Masters, PGA Championship, and U.S. Open. The struggles prompted a media pile-on, with establishment golf figures questioning his dedication to competitive play.

Thursday’s round represented DeChambeau’s first under-par performance in seven major championship rounds this year. Playing alongside world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, DeChambeau finished one stroke better than his highly-ranked playing partner, sharing the lead until a bogey on his final hole.

The performance showcased the aggressive, power-driven style that made DeChambeau one of golf’s most dominant forces. Despite hitting only 5 of 14 fairways on the dried-out Royal Birkdale course, he ranked second in the field in strokes gained off the tee during the morning wave.

DeChambeau’s recent struggles stand in stark contrast to his 2024-2025 dominance. During that span, he finished in the top 10 in six of eight major starts, capturing the 2024 U.S. Open title and posting runner-up finishes at consecutive PGA Championships. He was regularly mentioned alongside Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as one of the sport’s elite players.

The criticism intensified when DeChambeau suggested he might focus on YouTube golf content rather than return to the PGA Tour if LIV Golf shuts down. Former players and analysts seized on the comments as evidence of misplaced priorities.

Golf legend Nick Faldo delivered particularly harsh criticism heading into the Open Championship.

“He has zero clue of strategy,” Faldo said.

Analyst Brandel Chamblee piled on with his own assessment of DeChambeau’s focus.

“It’s almost like he went from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to chasing [YouTube golfer] Grant Horvat. It’s like he wants to outdo every YouTuber in the game of golf instead of outplay everybody in the game of golf,” Chamblee said.

DeChambeau, who typically makes himself available to media following rounds, declined to speak with reporters after Thursday’s performance. His score did the talking instead.

The golfer has won twice on LIV Golf in 2026, capturing victories in March even as his major championship results cratered. He recently admitted to using artificial intelligence to help diagnose and fix swing issues following his struggles.

Whether Thursday’s strong showing represents a genuine return to form or a temporary reprieve remains uncertain. DeChambeau will need consistent play over the remaining rounds to silence critics who question his competitive commitment.

For one day at Royal Birkdale, DeChambeau looked far more like the major champion who dominated in 2024 and 2025 than the struggling player who couldn’t make a weekend in 2026’s first three majors.

Americans deserve better than golf establishment critics rushing to tear down success.