The American star looked like he was close to tears when he got off the 18th on Thursday after shooting a dismal 78, but a remarkable turnaround on day two saw him fire a six under 65
Bryson DeChambeau revealed his late father inspired him to fight back and make the cut at The Open. The big-hitting American fired a six under 65 to bring himself back to one over and recover from a disastrous opening round at Royal Portrush.
DeChambeau shot a 78 on Thursday in a horror round which even included him whiffing a ball as he struggled with the links course.
He looked like he was close to tears when he got off the 18th on Thursday but somehow turned it around and put it down to wise words from his father, Jon, who died in 2022. When asked what he told himself after everything went against him on Thursday, the Liv Golf star said: “I want to go home.
“But I woke up this morning and I said, you know what, I can’t give up. My dad always told me never to give up, just got to keep going, and that’s what I did today.
“I was proud of the way I fought back, really persevered through some emotionally difficult moments.
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“To hold myself together and not get p***ed and slam clubs and throw things and all that like I wanted to, like I was very proud of myself.”
DeChambeau is unlikely to get into contention this weekend given how far he is back but he will get another two days out on the Dunluce links as the two-time Major winner still tries to master golf in this part of the world.
“In order to be a complete golfer you’ve got to win over here,” he said. “That’s something I’ve struggled to do. I’ve played well at times when it’s dry and greens are more consistent in their bounce and the greens are a little bit better.
“But when it gets as chaotic as this, with the wind going every which way, flipping on 18 completely, when you’re preparing all day for that left-to-right wind off 18, you have to be a complete golfer that pivots on demand.”
It was put to him that Phil Mickelson claimed his 2013 success at Muirfield was the proudest moment of his glittering career.
“I think he’s right; it’s the most proud moment of his career, which is awesome,” added DeChambeau. “For me, if I was to if it was ever to happen in my career, it probably would be the proudest as well.”