Bryson DeChambeau's Open Championship challenge ended in a whimper on Sunday at Royal Birkdale, as a disastrous triple-bogey seven on the par-four 11th hole dashed his hopes. The American, who had started the final round at minus five, four shots off the lead, saw his race run after a series of errors that included a penalty stroke and a buggy ride back to the scene of his original crime.
Disaster at the 11th
DeChambeau's troubles began when his driver flew 301 yards into thick rough on the left of the 11th fairway. His second shot advanced just eight yards, and his third flew into deep fescue on the right, where it was declared unplayable after an extensive search. The resulting one-shot penalty forced him to take a buggy 138 yards back to the original spot. The crowd, sensing the drama, serenaded him with chants of "Rory! Rory McIlroy!"—a reference to his rival. A triple-bogey seven followed, effectively ending his chances.
Early promise fades
Earlier, DeChambeau had been greeted by a massive crowd, 10 deep around the first tee, with many young fans and children—an unusual sight at a golf major. His YouTube channel, with 2.8 million subscribers, had drawn many supporters. However, his game failed to deliver. Despite a powerful first drive and an approach to 10 feet, his putt missed. The pattern repeated at the second hole, and by the turn, his driver had become wayward. Pars at the sixth and seventh were followed by a bogey at the eighth, leaving him falling back.
Controversy and crowd reaction
The crowd's reaction was mixed, with some sarcastic remarks, such as "Don't stomp the grass down, Bryson" at the fourth hole, referencing Friday's two-shot penalty controversy. DeChambeau had been penalized for inadvertently changing the conditions of his shot by walking on fescue. Rory McIlroy had accused him of holding the tournament hostage, but many fans remained supportive. Scottie Scheffler, after his round, defended DeChambeau, saying, "He's definitely not a cheater... I never saw anything suspicious."
Silent exit
As DeChambeau left Royal Birkdale, reporters hoping for comment heard only seven words: "Have a good night everyone. Thank you." The R&A had not accused him of cheating, but the incident on the fifth hole had been analyzed extensively, drawing comparisons to the Zapruder film. Despite the noise, DeChambeau's performance on the final day was a mere whimper when it mattered most.
