SOUTHPORT, England — Bryson DeChambeau and defending champion Scottie Scheffler both produced strong opening rounds at the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, positioning themselves among the contenders as the final major of the 2026 season gets underway. While Daniel Brown and Im Sung-jae set the early pace at 4-under, DeChambeau finished with a 3-under 67, and Scheffler carded a 2-under 68. The championship, hosted at Royal Birkdale for the 11th time, features a field of 156 players competing for the Claret Jug and the title of Champion Golfer of the Year.
DeChambeau’s Strategy Defies Critics
DeChambeau’s performance on Thursday drew significant attention due to his aggressive style of play. Despite hitting only four of 14 fairways, DeChambeau utilized his driver frequently, including a near-drive of the green on the 380-yard 10th hole. His strategy had been publicly questioned earlier in the week by three-time Open champion Nick Faldo, who criticized DeChambeau for what he termed a lack of strategy and an arrogant approach to links golf. Faldo suggested that the key to success at Royal Birkdale was finding the short grass to avoid the course’s penal pot bunkers. However, DeChambeau’s aggressive approach yielded results on the firm, browned-out course. Tyrrell Hatton, who played alongside him, noted that DeChambeau’s ball flight was excellent and that he hit few bad shots. DeChambeau, who did not speak to the media directly but shared comments through an R&A spokesperson, defended his approach. “I think you’ve got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course,” he said, emphasizing that he felt focused on placing the ball in the right areas. While a bogey on the final hole cost him a share of the clubhouse lead, the round marks only the second time in his Open career that he has been inside the top 70 after an opening round.
Scheffler Navigates Early Ups and Downs
World number one Scottie Scheffler began his title defense with a hot start, recording four birdies in five holes between the second and sixth. Despite the positive momentum, Scheffler eventually gave shots back, finishing with a 68. His round was hampered by two specific miscues. On the 150-yard seventh, he missed the green and failed to save par. “I got off to a hot start in the round today and wasn’t able to make as many birdies as I would have hoped to down the stretch,” Scheffler said. “If I continue to strike the ball the way I did today and just keep giving myself looks, that’s part of it.”
The Competitive Landscape at Royal Birkdale
The leaderboard remains crowded as players navigate the firm conditions at Royal Birkdale. Among the notable performances: * Daniel Brown and Im Sung-jae: Currently tied for the lead at 4-under. * Robert MacIntyre: Finished his round at 3-under, sitting one shot off the lead. * Tommy Fleetwood: Battled to 1-under par, ending his round with two birdies in the final four holes. * Rory McIlroy: Faced a challenging start, dropping to 2-over through his first seven holes. The 154th Open is viewed as a test of endurance and precision, with 72 holes total separating the field from the trophy. With the weather expected to remain fair for the remainder of the tournament, players are looking to maintain their momentum through the second round and beyond. For DeChambeau, the tournament represents an opportunity to break a streak of missing the cut in his last three major appearances, while Scheffler continues his bid to repeat as Champion Golfer of the Year.
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