Bryson DeChambeau stood behind the 18th hole grandstands at Royal Portrush on Thursday evening, July 17, 2025, a dejected figure. His opening round at the 153rd Open Championship had been a disaster: a 7-over-par 78 with zero birdies, leaving him tied for 144th and staring down a missed cut.
The wind-whipped Dunluce Links had exposed every flaw in his game, and the two-time U.S. Open champion admitted he wanted to “go home.” But something shifted overnight. Fueled by his late father’s mantra: “never give up,” DeChambeau staged one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent major history, carding rounds of 65, 68, and 64 to finish at 9-under-par, securing a top-10 finish and proving that resilience can outshine even the darkest moments.
The first round was a nightmare for DeChambeau. Battling rain and swirling winds, he hit just 39% of greens in regulation and lost over four strokes to the field with his approach play. His high-ball, power-driven game, so effective at U.S. Opens, clashed with the demands of links golf.
“I was ready to pack it in,” he confessed after Friday’s round. “It was emotionally tough.”
His Open Championship record of three missed cuts in seven starts, with only one prior top-10 (T8 in 2022), offered little hope.
But DeChambeau, known for his analytical mind and relentless drive, refused to quit.
“I woke up Friday and said, ‘I can’t give up,’” he told reporters, crediting his father’s advice. “I was proud of holding it together, not slamming clubs like I wanted to.” His second round was a revelation: a 6-under 65, tied for the day’s second-lowest score, with seven birdies and 17 greens in regulation, a stark contrast to Thursday’s seven. He hit over 50% of fairways and insisted he hadn’t changed much.
“I played the same as yesterday. That’s links golf,” he said. “My wedges were a fraction better, and I made a few more putts.”
The turnaround vaulted him to 1-over, making the cut on the number and keeping him in the fight.
Saturday’s third round saw DeChambeau build on his momentum with a 4-under 68, climbing into contention at 5-under. His approach play sharpened, and his putter stayed hot, rolling in four birdies. By Sunday, with calmer conditions at Portrush, he unleashed a 64, tying for the tournament’s low round, featuring three birdies in the first seven holes and a spectacular chip to two feet for birdie on the 12th. His final tally of 9-under landed him in a tie for 10th alongside Corey Conners, Brian Harman, and Russell Henley, a staggering 134-position climb from his first-round low.
DeChambeau’s turnaround wasn’t just about numbers; it was a testament to his mental fortitude.
“I was emotionally drained after Thursday,” he said. “But I told myself to keep going.” His performance earned him a seventh top-10 in his last 11 major starts, reinforcing his status as a big-stage player. It also bolstered his Ryder Cup case, with U.S. captain Keegan Bradley leaving an “inspirational” message in his locker.
“It meant a lot,” an emotional DeChambeau said, hinting at his hunger to help the U.S. reclaim the cup at Bethpage in September. “We’re tired of losing.”
Links golf has long been DeChambeau’s kryptonite. His high-ball flight struggles in wind, and he admitted to Golf Digest before the tournament that he’s still “figuring out” how to tame it.
“You have to be a complete golfer, pivoting on demand,” he said, noting his shift to more strategic, wind-fighting shots like draws into left-to-right breezes. At Portrush, that adaptation shone through, especially in his final 54 holes, where he gained strokes on the field in every major category.
“I’m learning,” he said Sunday. “It’s just going to take time.”
While Scottie Scheffler’s 17-under runaway victory dominated headlines, DeChambeau’s comeback was the featured undercard.
“He’s in a league of his own,” DeChambeau said of Scheffler, but his own performance of 65, 68, and 64, after a 78, was a masterclass in perseverance.
As DeChambeau left Portrush, his 9-under finish wasn’t just a top-10; it was a statement. The “Mad Scientist” had cracked the code, if only for a weekend, turning despair into defiance.
“I’m proud of how I fought back,” he said, eyes already set on the next challenge. For a player who once seemed allergic to links golf, this was a breakthrough, and a reminder that even the toughest equations can be solved with enough grit.
