Talk about your impressive turnarounds.
Bryson DeChambeau answered a disastrous 7-over-par 78 during the first round of the Open Championship on Thursday with a sizzling 6-under-par 65 Friday at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
The simple math is DeChambeau was 13 strokes better than the previous day, even though the two-time U.S. Open champion said he attacked the course the same way in both rounds.
“I’ve played the same as I did yesterday. That’s links golf for you. I executed pretty much the same shots as I did yesterday. I didn’t feel like I played any different,” DeChambeau said. “Today they just kind of went more my way. My wedges were just a fraction better and that was really it. Made a couple more putts. Just really felt like I was rolling it well today. There wasn’t much different. That’s why links golf is the way links golf is.”
While DeChambeau admitted that he wanted to go home after his two double bogeys and three bogeys marred his first-round performance, he said he came to the golf course with a different attitude on Friday.
“I woke up this morning and I said, you know what, I can’t give up,” DeChambeau said. “My dad always told me never to give up, just got to keep going, and that’s what I did today. I was proud of the way I fought back, really persevered through some emotionally difficult moments, and to hold myself together and not get (angry) and slam clubs and throw things and all that like I wanted to, like I was very proud of myself.”
He should be. DeChambeau collected seven birdies against one bogey on Friday to stand at plus-1 for the tournament, accomplishing that on a day filled with challenging weather.
DeChambeau, who is No. 15 in the Official World Golf Ranking, has struggled mightily at The Open Championship. He recorded his only top-10 finish at the event in 2022; however he has missed the cut three times and tied for 33rd, 51st and 60th place.
“In order to be a complete golfer you’ve got to win over here. That’s something I’ve struggled to do,” DeChambeau said. “I’ve played well at times when it’s dry and greens are more consistent. … But when it gets as chaotic as this, with the wind going every which way, flipping on 18 completely, you have to be a complete golfer that pivots on demand.”
–Field Level Media
