Bryson DeChambeau’s poor Open record comes to light after a sharp comment from Sir Nick Faldo.
Bryson DeChambeau has found the Open Championship tougher than any other major golf tournament, especially with some sharp words from three-time Open winner Sir Nick Faldo. Faldo feels Bryson hasn’t quite figured out the best way to play on links courses, which are very different from regular courses. Before the 2026 Open, Faldo told the Sky Sports Golf podcast that Bryson’s plan to “attack the links” just doesn’t work. Instead, Faldo explained, links golf is all about carefully guiding the ball along the fairway, paying attention to the bumps and slopes, and keeping the ball on short grass without being too aggressive.
DeChambeau has two major wins, both at the US Open in 2020 and 2024, but those wins came on courses very different from the Open’s traditional links style. At the PGA Championship, he’s done well too, finishing in the top five three times in recent years, but this year he didn’t make the cut.
When it comes to the Open Championship, though, Bryson has struggled more. Since his first Open in 2017 at Royal Birkdale—also the venue for this year’s event—he’s missed the cut several times and only once finished in the top 10, in 2022. Last year’s result, tied for 10th at Royal Portrush, offers hope, especially since he recovered from a tough first round.
Bryson, who joined the LIV Golf series in 2023, recently talked about his thoughts heading into this year’s Open. Despite some players in LIV Golf struggling in majors, Bryson has stayed sharp, with six top-10 finishes since early 2024. Still, he wants to avoid missing the cut for the fifth time in majors this season, having already missed the Masters, US Open, and PGA Championship.
When asked about playing the Open, Bryson shared that it’s all about managing things you can’t control, like wind and bouncing balls, which makes it different from the US Open. He appreciates the history and challenge of the Open, explaining that the tournament demands a unique kind of focus and toughness. Though he grew up playing American-style courses, he’s learned to respect and enjoy the unique test that links golf provides.