What’s Going On With Bryson DeChambeau at the Open?

A Quiet Bryson at the 154th Open Championship

Imagine you’re at a big school talent show. One kid, Bryson DeChambeau, is really good at golf (that’s his talent). But lately, he’s not talking to the reporters who want to ask him questions — kind of like a kid who used to chat a lot but now stays silent.

• Bryson had a surprisingly good start at the 154th Open Championship (a famous golf tournament).
• Even though he played well, he still didn’t want to talk to the media after his round.
• He used to talk a lot, but now he "lost his tongue" (meaning he’s staying quiet).

Important: Bryson’s silence makes him — and the people on his "team" who help him — look bad, because fans and reporters want to hear from him.

What People Are Saying About Bryson

Before the tournament even started, a golf legend named Nick Faldo (who knows a lot about winning the Open) said something mean but honest:

• Faldo said: "DeChambeau has zero clue of strategy." (That means Bryson doesn’t seem to know how to plan his shots smartly.)
• Ouch! That probably hurt Bryson’s feelings.

But Bryson is using some new stuff:

• He has new irons (the golf clubs for middle-distance shots) — he used to make his own!
• He also switched his driver (the club used to hit the ball super far).
• He plays in something called LIV Golf, which is a golf league. People are talking about it because the Saudi Arabian money that supports it might go away soon. But some believable backers might keep a smaller version of LIV going from 2027.

Bryson shot a 67 (that’s a good score!), which put him just two shots away from the lead. So there was a LOT to talk about. Instead, he only gave boring, polite words to the tournament organizers — like checking a box, not really sharing anything.

Bryson’s Bland Words vs. A Subtle Swipe

Bryson said safe, simple things like:

• "It was a hard fought battle out there."
• "The wind was switching quite a bit."
• "It was fun seeing the fans."
• "There’s some driving holes I’ve got to work on."

But then, maybe as a secret response to Faldo, he said:

• "I think you’ve got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course. I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic…"

Faldo, watching on TV, said he had "rattled the cage" of Bryson — meaning he got under his skin a little.

Not Everyone Is Surprised He’s Playing Well

A golfer named Tyrrell Hatton played with Bryson and laughed at the idea that Bryson doing well is shocking.

• Hatton said: "It shouldn’t surprise anyone. He’s an amazing player."
• Bryson’s Open record is up and down, and he missed the cut (went home early) in the first three majors of 2026. But Hatton says Bryson is just that good.

How The First Round Played Out

Here’s what happened at the end of Bryson’s round:

1. Bryson dropped a shot (scored worse) on the last hole.
2. His second shot flew over the 18th green, and his chip (a small gentle hit) was too weak.
3. He finished at four under par for most of the round but ended a bit lower.
4. Im Sung-jae and Dan Brown were at four under, but then Jackson Suber passed them!

Jackson Suber is a newcomer playing in Europe for the first time. He said:

• "The golf is really cool."
• "And the towns, how the train system works." (He doesn’t know about possible train strikes this weekend!)

His back-nine score of 31 was awesome. He probably won’t win, but he’s enjoying his fame.

The Crowded Leaderboard and Slow Play

Bryson is tied with 8 other players near the top, including:

• Bob MacIntyre
• Francesco Molinari
• Cameron Young
• Thomas Detry

The morning players had easier conditions. But even so, Bryson, Hatton, and Scottie Scheffler took over 5.5 hours to finish!

Hatton said: "Can you imagine if we had bad weather? It would be even longer." The field is big, and the par-fives (holes where you’re supposed to take 5 shots) were reachable, which slows things down.

Other Big Names and Their Days

• Rory McIlroy: Had a frustrating day with his putter (the club for rolling the ball into the hole). He finished at two over par but made a nice birdie (one under par) on the last. He needs a strong round Friday.
• Scottie Scheffler: Was four under after six holes, then dropped to two under.
• Henrik Stenson (2016 winner) and Collin Morikawa: Both at two under.
• Shane Lowry: Scraped out a 69 (one under).
• Justin Rose: Had a bad day — a 75. He needs to fight to stay in the tournament. A double bogey on hole 11 summed up his trouble.

Important: Links golf (golf by the sea with bouncy ground) is unpredictable and can make even great players look silly!

Summary

Bryson DeChambeau started the Open great with a 67 but is refusing to talk to media, which looks bad after Nick Faldo said he lacks strategy. Bryson hinted he actually played smart. Meanwhile, newcomers like Jackson Suber lead, slow play annoyed players, and stars like McIlroy and Rose had mixed days. LIV Golf’s future is also a side talk.

FAQ

Q: Why isn’t Bryson DeChambeau talking to the media?
A: He just isn’t — after a good round he declined interviews, giving only bland comments to organizers. It makes him and his team look bad.

Q: What did Nick Faldo say about Bryson?
A: Before the Open, Faldo said Bryson has "zero clue of strategy," meaning he thought Bryson didn’t plan well.

Q: Who is leading the Open after round one?
A: Jackson Suber, a first-time European player, took the lead with a strong back nine, passing others like Im Sung-jae and Dan Brown.

Q: What is LIV Golf and why does it matter here?
A: LIV Golf is Bryson’s league, backed by Saudi money that may leave soon; rumors say smaller LIV could survive from 2027.

Q: Why was the first round so slow?
A: Big field plus reachable par-fives meant Bryson’s group took over 5.5 hours; bad weather would make it worse.