The Open Championship just closed out the 2026 major championship season, and somehow one of the most unexpected winners in recent memory, Ryan Fox, hasn’t been the story.
Instead? It’s once again Bryson DeChambeau. DeChambeau was a lightning rod for criticism ahead of The Open when analysts Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee had harsh words for his approach. Faldo said he lacked the in links golf, that he hits driver as far as he can and hopes for the best instead of trying to “thread” it down the fairway.
Chamblee had a broader complaint: He believes DeChambeau has spent more time chasing YouTube golf star Grant Horvat than trying to run down the best in the world, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. So how did Bryson respond? In the most Bryson way possible.
He immediately put himself in contention with a strong 3-under 67 first round. Afterward, he said in his media appearance that he had been very “strategic” when playing Royal Birkdale, a clear response to Faldo. Round two, however, was where he really became the center of attention.
After the round was completed, a seeming 4-under 66, rules officials brought DeChambeau back to the fifth hole, where they assessed him a two-stroke penalty for improving the area around his backswing. DeChambeau was furious, and apparently threatened to withdraw from the tournament in protest.
Some players, like Xander Schauffele, came to his defense. Scottie Scheffler also was adamant that the 32-year-old is not a “cheater.”
One player who didn’t come to his defense? Rory McIlroy. McIlroy was clear in his post-round comments that he doesn’t care for DeChambeau and believed he deserved the penalty.
“I wont pretend to be up here and defend Bryson,” he told reporters during the tournament. “Im not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it is performative. I think a lot of its for attention.
“To hold the tournament hostage like that and to have all of us â players, volunteers, everyone â waiting on him to depart, I didnt feel like it was a great look,” McIlroy said.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU DETAILS THE TWO COMPLICATED HURDLES IN HIS WAY OF A POTENTIAL PGA TOUR RETURN
“I think theres no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing,” he added. “Again, its like, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I dont think it matters. Hopefully, it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified, for sure.”
This marked the latest entry in the budding rivalry between the two big names and big personalities in professional golf. They’re on opposite sides of Ryder Cup battles. DeChambeau was one of the earliest and largest stars to depart for LIV Golf, while McIlroy became a sort of player spokesman defending the PGA Tour. McIlroy has never
