Six-time major champion Nick Faldo has sharply criticized LIV Golf player Bryson DeChambeau's strategy, or perceived lack thereof, when playing on links golf courses. Faldo stated that DeChambeau has "zero clue of strategy" for this type of terrain.
Faldo, a three-time Open Championship winner, questioned DeChambeau's "attack the links" mentality, contrasting it with the more nuanced approach required. "You thread it, don’t you? You feed it down the fairway," Faldo explained, emphasizing the need to navigate the uneven surfaces of links courses. He described the importance of "looking at humps and bumps" and "feeding" the ball into play rather than simply hitting it as hard as possible.
"You don’t think, ‘I’ll just bomb it down there, can’t see where I’m going, it’s 20 yards wide.’ Oh yeah, good luck," Faldo added, suggesting that such an aggressive strategy is ill-suited for the challenges of links golf. He also pointed out that even with strong ball-striking, an errant drive can easily end up in a divot, making accuracy and course management crucial for finding the short grass.
DeChambeau has struggled in major championships this season, missing the cut at The Masters, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship. His participation in The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale was secured by a top-10 finish in the previous year's event. Faldo suggested that DeChambeau's performance in majors, where he has not met expectations, contrasts with his status as a "superstar" on the LIV Golf tour.
To prove Faldo wrong and avoid a similar outcome to his previous major appearances this year, DeChambeau will need to demonstrate improved play in the initial rounds of The Open. His performance in golf's final major of the year could also be a factor in his reported contract negotiations, with DeChambeau said to be seeking a substantial deal upon the expiration of his LIV Golf contract.