Defending Champion Bryson DeChambeau Faces Crisis in ‘Bizarre’ Incident as US Open Leaves Elite Golfers Puzzled

Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau certainly encountered a tumultuous start to his title defence at the US Open.

After clinching last year’s major in dramatic fashion while Rory McIlroy faltered, it was DeChambeau’s turn to face a setback – albeit to a milder degree – as he recorded a 3-over 73 in his opening round.

His struggle peaked on the par-5 fourth hole, where he made a peculiar blunder that even he described as “dumb.”

After sending his drive into the rough, he managed to hack his way back onto the fairway, only to have the ball land in a spot where spectators had walked.

Though allowed relief due to the lie, he picked up the ball without marking its location, which proved problematic when he was unable to find a more advantageous lie. When he attempted to return the ball to its original position, a rules official stepped in.

She indicated where he could take a free drop, but again, the LIV Golf star made a puzzling mistake.

Instead of following the drop procedure, he mistakenly placed the ball on the fairway. The rules official quickly stepped in, reminding him that he needed to drop the ball or face a potential one-shot penalty.

DeChambeau could be overheard labelling his misstep as “dumb” before he finally took the shot and managed to par the hole.

He faltered again on the 12th hole, another par-5, where, after reaching the green in two, his third shot flew over the green. He then struggled to handle the rough with two poor shots before eventually putting in for a bogey.

“I don’t know what happened, I just couldn’t find the right speed on the greens. I had a few three-putts, especially on 9 and 12,” DeChambeau reflected afterwards. “Honestly, I could’ve easily ended up under par.”

The US Open is notoriously one of the most challenging majors in golf, and Oakmont presents a formidable test for players trying to post low scores.

At one stage, Gary Woodland, the 2019 US Open champion, called over a rules official after getting his ball buried deep in the rough on the 12th hole. With a thud, his wayward drive had landed and seemed to sink into the turf.

Unfortunately for him, the official informed him that the rough at Oakmont was simply thick and unforgiving, meaning he couldn’t take a free drop. Woodland had to replace the ball and hope for a lucky recovery.

This mistake was part of a rough back nine where he finished with a disappointing 6-over 41 after a promising start that included three birdies, culminating in a 3-over 73.

His experience was just one of numerous stories from Oakmont’s unforgiving terrain, known for its gnarly and challenging nature.

“Even a player like me struggles to escape the thick rough at times, depending on the lie,” said DeChambeau, who usually dominates courses with his power. “It was tough going. A true test of golf.”

The emphasised effort to challenge the best golfers is the goal of the greenskeepers at what is arguably America’s most challenging golf course.

JJ Spaun seemed to find the best approach.

With the early morning dew still evident, Spaun hit a remarkable chip-in from a tricky lie on his first hole to kick off the tournament with a birdie. He may have only hit eight of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, but his score of 4-under 66 put him ahead and allowed him to watch the later players tackle the tough course.

“I thrive on feeling uncomfortable,” Spaun remarked.

This week, he certainly came to the right place.

– with AP