Bryson DeChambeau's 'strategic' Open Championship first round a rebuke of pre-tournament criticism

Bryson DeChambeau silences critics with strong showing during first round of The Open Championship

DeChambeau, a two-time major champion, is part of one of the most high-profile groupings of the first and second rounds, playing alongside world No. 1 and 2025 Open Championship winner Scottie Scheffler and Tyrrell Hatton, No. 4 in LIV Golf and coming off a tie for seventh at the U.S. Open.

DeChambeau had more missed cuts (three) at The Open than top 10 finishes (two) in eight career appearances entering this year's tournament but posted the lowest score among his group, which seemed unlikely as Scheffler surged to a solo lead at four-under with a birdie on the par-4 No. 6.

But DeChambeau held his own, recording birdies on the first two holes with nine- and 17-foot putts, then relying on an impressive approach game to move into a share of first heading into No. 18. As analyst Justin Ray noted on social media, DeChambeau was seeking to become the first player since Lucas Glover (2006 PGA Championship) to lead after any round of the year's final major after missing the cut of the first three.

No one separated himself from the rest of the field during the first round, leaving 54 holes to decide The Open winner. After defying critics in the first round, DeChambeau is firmly in the mix heading into the second round.

He let his game do the talking on Thursday and responded more directly to Falco's "strategy" jab afterward, telling reporters, "I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic."

Per TheOpen.com data, DeChambeau tied for the third-most greens in regulation (15-of-18) during Round 1 and led all golfers with birdie chances inside 10 feet (six). With better overall putting (he ranked outside the top 100 in strokes gained with his putter on Thursday), he may have closed the round with a multiple-stroke advantage.

Regardless of what could have been, DeChambeau's first round went far better than many expected. It will take more strategy for him to leave Royal Birkdale with the claret jug, but what once was a pipe dream has become realistic.