Bryson DeChambeau ascended in the world of golf by winning the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. He triumphed over Rory McIlroy with a remarkable bunker shot on the 72nd hole, securing a short putt to claim his second U.S. Open Championship. Since then, DeChambeau’s performance in majors has been varied. In 2025, he finished T5 at The Masters and T2 at the PGA Championship, but missed the cut at the U.S. Open at Oakmont before rebounding with a T10 finish at The Open at Royal Portrush.
While missing a cut as a defending champion is disappointing, DeChambeau’s 2026 season has been further challenging. Golf legend Nick Faldo delivered harsh criticism on DeChambeau’s struggles in major tournaments. DeChambeau’s three major starts at Augusta, Aronimink, and Shinnecock resulted in three missed cuts. He narrowly missed the cutline at the U.S. Open along with other notable players like Viktor Hovland, Patrick Reed, and Harris English. For a golfer of his skill, this is considered unacceptable.
“I’d say it to his face — DeChambeau has zero clue of strategy,” commented Nick Faldo. Faldo doubts DeChambeau will succeed on a links-style golf course like Royal Birkdale. He criticized DeChambeau’s approach, saying, “You thread it, don’t you? You feed it down the fairway.”
Analyst Brandel Chamblee also weighed in, calling DeChambeau’s performance surprising. Chamblee compared DeChambeau’s focus, saying, “It’s like he wants to outdo every YouTuber in the game of golf instead of outplay everybody in the game.” Grant Horvat, mentioned by Chamblee, is a notable name in YouTube Golf and has collaborated with DeChambeau.
DeChambeau has faced criticism partly due to his decision to join LIV, which limits direct competition with players like Scottie Scheffler and McIlroy outside major tournaments. His unique approach, which includes 3D-printed clubs and unconventional techniques, often contrasts with traditional golf norms.
Despite these challenges, DeChambeau maintained strong performances in 2024 while creating YouTube content, securing three top-10 finishes in majors. His potential remains, and he could silence critics by performing well and continuing his YouTube endeavors post-tournaments.
DeChambeau has dealt with injuries this season, affecting his competitive edge. Nonetheless, he demonstrated resilience with his T10 finish at Royal Portrush, outperforming players better known for links strategy.