The sting of a lost Claret Jug did not dull Bryson DeChambeau’s swing. Just 4 days after a disputed penalty and a damaging triple bogey shaped his finish at Royal Birkdale, he opened LIV Golf UK with an 8 under 64 at JCB Golf and Country Club.
DeChambeau made an eagle at the par 5 6th, produced 4 consecutive birdies and later added another run of 3 straight. His surge carried him into solo 2nd place, 3 shots behind Lucas Herbert, whose brilliant 61 included 9 birdies and an eagle.
The timing gave DeChambeau’s round extra meaning. He had finished The Open at 4 under, 6 shots behind champion Ryan Fox at 10 under. In DeChambeau’s mind, 2 disastrous holes accounted for that entire margin.
His 64 could not recover the Claret Jug. It did show that the disappointment had not weakened his scoring touch.
A Haunting Finish at Royal Birkdale
The 1st blow came at the par 4 5th during Round 2. DeChambeau moved through long grass surrounding his ball while preparing to play his 2nd shot. Officials later ruled that he had pressed down grass in the area of his intended backswing, creating more room for the club to travel.
Grant Moir, chief referee at The Open, explained that the rule applied even though DeChambeau had not intended to improve the area. Officials issued a 2 stroke penalty under Rule 8.1.
His bogey became a triple bogey 7. The ruling turned a 66 into a 68 and dropped him from 1 shot behind Herbert to 3 shots back.
DeChambeau still entered the weekend close enough to challenge. A 69 on Saturday kept him within reach, but Sunday brought another costly mistake. His lost ball at the 11th led to a triple bogey and effectively ended his pursuit of the Claret Jug.
That frustration remained fresh when he returned to competition at JCB.
“Besides the 5th hole and being 3 over on that hole and then the 11th hole, that’s 6 shots. That’s tied for the lead right there,” DeChambeau said after his opening round.
Remove those 2 disasters, and his 4 under total reaches Fox’s winning mark of 10 under. The calculation explains why DeChambeau believes he allowed a major championship to escape.
Still, he did not blame the entire loss on the ruling. DeChambeau admitted that his play over the final 2 rounds lacked the sharpness required to win. The penalty damaged his position, but the closing 36 holes gave him opportunities to recover.
That honesty gave his opening performance at JCB greater weight. DeChambeau did not arrive simply complaining about what might have been. He arrived scoring.
Chasing Down a Historic 61
Any time spent dwelling on Royal Birkdale disappeared once Herbert began tearing through JCB.
The Australian opened with 3 straight birdies and reached the turn in 31. He then rolled in a 47.5 foot eagle putt at the par 5 10th.
Herbert completed a bogey free 61 after adding 4 birdies during a 5 hole stretch on the back 9. He made more than 120 feet of putts and forced the rest of the field to abandon any cautious opening round strategy.
DeChambeau saw Herbert reach 10 under while playing the 14th. That number changed his approach. Rather than protect a strong score, he decided he needed to chase birdies across the closing stretch.
His card already contained plenty of firepower. The eagle at the 6th supplied the early jolt. Runs of 4 consecutive birdies and 3 straight birdies showed how quickly he could close ground once he committed to attacking.
DeChambeau later said he freed himself up after watching the lead move farther away. That shift carried him to 64 and prevented Herbert’s remarkable round from turning the tournament into an early runaway.
The score represented an immediate rebound, not redemption. DeChambeau can only turn it into something larger by staying close to Herbert and completing the job.
His frustration over The Open remains understandable. Officials added 2 strokes after ruling that he had improved his backswing area. Another triple bogey on Sunday then erased his remaining championship hopes.
Major championships do not allow players to remove their worst holes from the total. DeChambeau knows that. His admission that he needed more over the weekend carried as much weight as his criticism of the penalty.
JCB now offers a cleaner test. His power remains intact. Birdies arrived in waves. When Herbert pulled away, DeChambeau increased the pressure instead of settling for a comfortable score.
The remaining rounds will decide whether the 64 becomes the foundation of another title charge or merely another impressive number without a trophy attached.
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FAQs
What did Bryson DeChambeau shoot at LIV Golf UK?
DeChambeau opened with an 8-under 64. He finished the round alone in second place.
How far behind Lucas Herbert was Bryson DeChambeau?
DeChambeau trailed Herbert by 3 shots. Herbert opened with a bogey-free 61.
Why was Bryson DeChambeau penalized at The Open?
Officials ruled that DeChambeau pressed down grass in his intended backswing area. They gave him a two-stroke penalty under Rule 8.1.
What did DeChambeau say cost him the Claret Jug?
DeChambeau pointed to the 5th and 11th holes. He believed those 2 triple bogeys cost him 6 shots.
Who won The Open at Royal Birkdale?
Ryan Fox won at 10 under. DeChambeau finished at 4 under, 6 shots behind him.
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