Bryson DeChambeau pinpoints the one area of his game which let him down on day one of the US Open

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Bryson DeChambeau had a difficult opening round at the 2025 US Open. He shot a three-over-par 73 at Oakmont Country Club.

DeChambeau teed off on hole one at 7.29 a.m. with Xander Schauffele and fellow LIV golfer Jose Luis Ballester.

He was even par on the front nine after making birdies at the 5th and 7th holes, but he lost ground on the back nine.

The 31-year-old made bogeys on holes 12, 15, and 16, as one particular area of his game let him down.

• READ MORE: Jon Rahm says what’s so difficult about playing at Oakmont that isn’t getting enough attention in US Open coverage

Bryson DeChambeau says what let him down in US Open first round

DeChambeau said he “didn’t get anything out of” his opening round at Oakmont. In other words, he played better than the score suggests.

That usually means playing well tee to green, and not making enough putts. That’s what happened to the defending champion on Thursday.

“Just didn’t get anything out of it,” he said. “I kept it 1-under through 7, through 8, perfect drive on 9, and this golf course can come up and get you pretty quick, and you’ve just got to be on your game, and it got me, and I wasn’t fully on my game. Pretty disappointed with how I played.

“It’s not too far off. Just got to get the putting a little bit more dialed, and I’ll be right there because 3-over could have easily been 2-under today.”

He emphasised that the flatstick was his biggest weakness on day one at the US Open, and that it prevented him from shooting under par.

“Yeah, for whatever reason, just couldn’t get the speed of the greens dialed in,” he added upon reflection.

“I was in the collar a couple times, just three-putted on those holes, and three three-putts and doing whatever happened on 12, then No. 9, three-putting there, too. I mean, it could have been a couple-under round pretty easily.”

Bryson DeChambeau says whether Oakmont played as difficult as he expected

DeChambeau was also asked whether Oakmont lived up to expectations in terms of difficulty on Thursday at the US Open.

Many predicted the golf course would provide a stiff test to the world’s top golfers, and DeChambeau admits it certainly did.

“Yeah, absolutely,” he explained. “I think the rough is incredibly penalizing. Even for a guy like me, I can’t get out of it sometimes, depending on the lie. It was tough.

“It was a brutal test of golf. But one that I’m excited for tomorrow. If I just tidy up a couple of things and get some momentum going my way, we’ll see where it goes.”