Sky Sports golf pundit Nick Faldo has claimed Bryson DeChambeau got something completely wrong during the first round of the 2024 Open Championship.
The big-hitting American was left to rue a disappointing front nine after carding a five-over 76.
An unexpected southwesterly wind caught the world’s best players off guard on Thursday, making Royal Troon’s front nine the tougher stretch of holes.
DeChambeau was one of the main victims despite the American claiming he was looking to alter his ball flight to cope with the blustery conditions.
Nick Faldo slams Bryson DeChambeau’s first-round tactics at Royal Troon
Faldo is never shy of dishing out criticism. Speaking on Sky Sports commentary [18:01, July 18], the Englishman claimed DeChambeau got his tactics all wrong.
“It’s not surprising for me [why he struggled],” he explained. “You talk about the rough. He wants to stay aggressive, stand up, and bash it down there, but that’s just not how you play links golf.”
Faldo went on to suggest that the American failed to recognise the priority of links golf.
“There’s a serious priority in keeping it down the fairway,” he added.
Bryson DeChambeau now faces battle to make the cut at Royal Troon
DeChambeau’s 76 was his worst opening round at The Open since his debut back in 2017, and seven years ago, the now-LIV Golf star missed the cut.
He will need to go low to stand a chance of making the weekend, and if conditions stay the same, it’s hard to envisage DeChambeau’s fortunes changing.
The American’s game isn’t best suited to links golf, and it should come as no surprise to see him struggle.
Elsewhere, another high-profile name who failed to live up to expectations was Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman sits at seven over and well off the pace.
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