Bryson DeChambeau has hit back at Sir Nick Faldo after the golfing legend accused him of having “zero strategy”.
The American got off to a solid start in The Open at Royal Birkdale, recording a three-under-par 67.
Before coming into the tournament, Faldo delivered a brutal verdict on the 32-year-old’s approach to links courses, saying: “I’d say it to his face, DeChambeau has zero clue of strategy.”
The American recorded five birdies and two bogeys in a very impressive first round in Southport.
DeChambeau refused to speak to the media but did answer questions for the R&A’s in-house channel.
The American emphasised the importance of “strategy” in a brief response.
He said: “I think you’ve got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course. I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super hard on placing it in the right places.
“Besides 18, I placed the ball in some good areas. I just need to hit more fairways. Other than that, I feel like my strategy was nice today.”
Bryson DeChambeau has hit back at Sir Nick Faldo
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The LIV Golf star arrived in Southport desperate to end a miserable run at golf’s biggest events this season.
DeChambeau has failed to make the weekend at all three majors in 2026 – a stark contrast to his form elsewhere.
On the LIV circuit, it’s been a different story entirely. The two-time US Open champion has claimed a pair of victories and notched up three top-three finishes.
Faldo couldn’t resist pointing out the disparity, noting how LIV players become “superstars” on their tour before struggling when they return to compete at the majors.
DeChambeau impressed in round one of The Open
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The key, he explained, is thinking backwards from where the pin sits and using the natural contours of the course to your advantage.
“You look at humps and bumps. If I send it over and feed it, it nudges back into play. You don’t think: ‘Oh, I’ll just blast it down there. Can’t see where I’m going.’ The fairway is 20 yards wide,” he said.
The Englishman emphasised that players don’t need to reach for the driver on every hole.
Landing on downslopes with a one iron or three wood can add an extra 30 yards of roll without the pressure of finding narrow fairways.
Sir Nick Faldo criticised Bryson DeChambeau’s gameplan for The Open | GETTY
The American revealed he’s carrying a fresh set of 3D-printed irons for this week, which take roughly an hour to produce through a combination of machining and printing processes.
DeChambeau said: “This is a tough golf course; I like it. It really tests every facet of your game.”
He acknowledged his struggles but pointed to his broader form as a reason for optimism.
“I know I haven’t had the best results this year, but I’ve won twice, and top-three’d three times. Just a couple of weird things happening at the majors.”
