Rex Hoggard said that Bryson DeChambeau was the “picture of a confused golfer” in his first round at The Open.
DeChambeau shot a seven-over 78 in his first round to leave him at serious risk of missing the cut for the second Open in a row. He had three bogeys and two doubles on a birdie-free scorecard.
The LIV Golf and YouTube star, DeChambeau, has a long history of struggles on links courses, and Hoggard says those issues are not close to being fixed in this year’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Rex Hoggard calls Bryson DeChambeau a ‘confused golfer’ after abysmal round one at The Open
DeChambeau’s round was a mess from the jump. He doubled the sixth hole after taking two swings to get out of the rough, and he airmailed the green on the par-three 13th, forcing shouts of “fore” for a cameraman.
He looked perpetually perplexed as he sent balls up into the sky, for the wind to take hold and send his shots left and right. The two-time US Open winner simply couldn’t figure out the conditions.
Speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Hoggard said, “That was a picture of a confused golfer. That was a picture of a golfer that is trying to figure something out, and it’s just not adding up. He’s trying to do a match equation and he can’t get it to work.”
Hoggard predicted a difficult Open for DeChambeau on Wednesday, saying the American was a scientist while Rory McIlroy was an artist, more able to adapt to the conditions and produce the shot that is needed.
He doubled down after Thursday’s play, “It’s going to continue to be that way if he wants to continue to lean into being the scientist.”
Bryson DeChambeau should learn from Phil Mickelson if he wants to win the Open
After missing the cut at the 2024 Open Championship, DeChambeau admitted that he “doesn’t have links figured out yet.” He appeared to enter this year’s tournament with a better idea, saying to the media that he needs to simply do what the course requires.
He didn’t execute that in round one, however, leaving Hoggard to question whether he is capable of it at this stage of his career.
He said, “Today was an example that he’s not ready, he’s not there, to be able to execute those shots. These conditions are just not his wheelhouse.”
He’s not the only golfing great to have difficulties on links. Phil Mickelson, before winning The Open in 2013, struggled in the UK almost every year. He eventually adapted his game, learning to hit the ball lower and stay out of the wind, and Hoggard thinks that is on the table for DeChambeau.
He continued, “That’s not to say he’s not going to figure it out. Phil Mickelson figured it out eventually; it took him quite a few starts to figure out how to play links golf.”
It comes down to willingness. DeChambeau has won the US Open twice, but has no other majors to his name. Is it worth overhauling his style, which he has had so much success with, for the sake of one weekend? Only he can answer that one.