Bryson DeChambeau opened the PGA Championship with a 6-over 76, leaving the two-time U.S. Open champion staring at a missed cut.
Bryson DeChambeau’s PGA Championship started with the kind of round that makes the weekend feel a long way away.
DeChambeau shot a 6-over 76 in Thursday’s opening round at Aronimink Golf Club, putting him near the bottom of the leaderboard and in serious danger of missing the cut.
When he signed his card, the two-time U.S. Open champion was tied for 120th, ahead of only eight players in the field.
It’s another reminder of how volatile DeChambeau’s game can be at major championships. Since winning the 2024 U.S. Open, he has played six majors.
The results have swung wildly ... three top-10 finishes and three missed cuts. When the power, touch and putting all line up, he can look like a threat to win anywhere. When one piece breaks down, things can unravel quickly.
Thursday was one of those days.
DeChambeau still had plenty of speed off the tee, but the rest of the bag didn’t cooperate. His iron and wedge distance control was shaky, his short game put him in trouble, and the putter didn’t bail him out often enough.
Those issues have followed him in recent majors, especially when conditions require feel, patience and adjustments in the wind.
The warning signs were there during practice. On Wednesday, with gusts making Aronimink difficult to solve, DeChambeau tested multiple shots from the same yardage on the 16th hole.
The results were scattered. Some shots came up short from the fairway, while others jumped long from the rough.
He looked confused by the ball flight and reaction, searching for an answer that didn’t arrive before his opening round.
That frustration spilled into Thursday.
After another bogey on his 16th hole of the day, DeChambeau had to wait roughly 10 minutes on the 241-yard par-3 seventh. When he finally hit, his long iron missed short and right.
The mistake led to more frustration, and his next chip raced over the green. A follow-up chip came up short, and he eventually walked away with a double bogey.
Even the walk to his final tee became messy, as DeChambeau briefly appeared unsure of the route at Aronimink. He did finish with his lone birdie of the day on the par-5 ninth, but one good hole couldn’t erase a rough opening act.
After scoring, DeChambeau went straight to the range. The search for answers clearly isn’t over.
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