Bryson DeChambeau arrives at the British Open facing a significant skid in major championship performance, a stark contrast to his recent dominance.
DeChambeau, who won the 2024 U.S. Open and appeared poised to take over the golf world, has missed the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, and U.S. Open in 2026. Another missed cut at Royal Birkdale would leave him without a major finish this year.
Despite these recent struggles in majors, DeChambeau has found success on the LIV Golf tour, securing two wins and three third-place finishes this season. His off-course brand, including his YouTube presence, continues to thrive.
In previous major appearances, DeChambeau finished 10th at last year's British Open, following a tie for fifth at the 2025 PGA Championship and a tie for second at the Masters. He has largely declined interview requests regarding his form in recent weeks and has not commented on his current performance leading into this tournament.
Criticism regarding DeChambeau's approach to links golf has emerged. Former Open champion Nick Faldo commented to Sky Sports that DeChambeau "has zero clue of strategy," adding that the golfer's "bomb it" approach is ill-suited for traditional links courses, which require a more precise, threaded strategy.
Meanwhile, defending British Open champion Scottie Scheffler, PGA champion Aaron Rai, and U.S. Open winner Wyndham Clark have shared insights into where they store their prized trophies. Scheffler keeps his in a "golf room" at his home, which he described as "a bit of a mess." Clark is currently building a new home and keeping his trophies on his dining table in a condo, while Rai's Wanamaker Trophy is housed at his father's home.
Rai, one of 21 English players in the field, addressed the historical lack of an English winner at an English venue for the British Open since 1969. He stated that while there is always pressure in major championships, he tries not to view it differently from any other week, with most of that pressure being self-imposed.