Analyst Brandel Chamblee has voiced sharp criticism regarding Bryson DeChambeau's recent major championship performances, suggesting the LIV Golf professional's focus has shifted from competing with top players to creating content. DeChambeau has missed the cut in all three of the 2026 majors contested so far: the Masters, the PGA Championship, and the U.S. Open.
DeChambeau, who won the 2024 U.S. Open, has experienced a mixed record in majors since that victory. While he secured a T5 at the Masters and a T2 at the PGA Championship in 2025, his performance dipped significantly in 2026 with three consecutive missed cuts. He did rebound to finish T10 at The Open at Royal Portrush in 2025.
Chamblee commented on DeChambeau's current trajectory, stating, "Probably one of the biggest surprises of the year is Bryson DeChambeau. It's almost like he went from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to chasing Grant Horvat." Horvat is a prominent figure in YouTube golf content and has collaborated with DeChambeau on multiple videos. Chamblee's remarks imply DeChambeau is dedicating more energy to content creation than to competing at the highest level of professional golf.
Golf legend Nick Faldo also offered his perspective on DeChambeau's approach to links-style golf, which he believes is ill-suited for an aggressive strategy. "He said last year: 'I'm going to go out and attack the links'. Well, I've never attacked a links [course]. You thread it, don't you? You feed it down the fairway," Faldo said.
DeChambeau's career choices, including his move to LIV Golf and his use of non-traditional equipment like 3D-printed single-length irons, have drawn attention from golf traditionalists. His performance in majors, where he faces the majority of the sport's top talent, is often used as a benchmark for his standing in the game.
Despite the criticism, DeChambeau's 2025 season included three top-10 finishes in majors. Reports also indicate he has dealt with several injuries during the current season, which may have impacted his performance. The upcoming Open Championship at Royal Birkdale presents an opportunity for DeChambeau to silence his critics with a strong showing.