Bryson DeChambeau claps back at Nick Faldo, other critics, after -3 round at The Open: ‘incredibly strategic’

DeChambeau Addresses Critics Following Strong Open Championship Round

Bryson DeChambeau claps back at Nick - Bryson DeChambeau has once again become a focal point of conversation within professional golf circles. The 2024 United States Open titleholder has endured what many consider a disappointing campaign in 2026, particularly when examining his results in championship events. Three consecutive missed cuts have defined his early season, beginning at The Masters, followed by the PGA Championship held at Aronimink, and concluding with the US Open at Shinnecock Hills. For an athlete whose potential ceiling remains among the highest in the sport, these results fall short of expectations.

This pattern of underperformance has invited scrutiny from various analysts and commentators. Many have pointed to DeChambeau's growing presence on YouTube as a potential distraction, suggesting his content creation priorities may be interfering with his ability to adapt to varying course conditions and playing styles.

Faldo's Sharp Assessment of Links Play

Nick Faldo, a six-time major champion and three-time Champion Golfer of the Year, offered pointed criticism regarding DeChambeau's approach to links courses. The legendary golfer suggested that the American player lacks sufficient strategic thinking when navigating these challenging layouts.

"That's a whole part of the story, how they're superstars at LIV then come over and can't do it. So that's all another story. Then they go back to be superstars. He has — I'd say it to his face — he has zero clue of strategy," Faldo told Sky Sports earlier this week.

Faldo continued by contrasting DeChambeau's aggressive mindset with the more nuanced approach required on links courses.

"He said it last year I think on TV: 'I'm going to go out and attack the links.' Well, I've never attacked a links. You thread it, don't you? You feed it down the fairway. You look at humps and bumps and what have you and think, 'If I send it over and feed it, it nudges back into play.' You don't think, 'I'll just bomb it down there, can't see where I'm going, it's 20 yards wide.' Oh yeah, good luck."

Chamblee Questions YouTube Focus

Brandel Chamblee offered a different perspective on DeChambeau's recent struggles, attributing them to an excessive focus on his digital media endeavors rather than pure golf competition.

"Probably one of the biggest surprises of the year is Bryson DeChambeau," Chamblee explained this week. "It's almost like he went from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to chasing Grant Horvat. It's like he wants to outdo every YouTuber in the game of golf instead of outplay everybody in the game of golf."

DeChambeau's Measured Response

The 32-year-old golfer appeared to acknowledge these criticisms during a post-round interview on Thursday, following an impressive three-under 67 at Royal Birkdale. Rather than addressing multiple media outlets, DeChambeau chose to speak with a single R&A reporter, keeping his comments concise yet meaningful.

Initially, he provided a straightforward assessment of his performance, noting the challenging wind conditions and expressing enjoyment at the fan support throughout the round.

"It was a hard-fought battle out there. The wind was switching quite a bit. It was fun seeing a lot of the fans going at us, and they were rooting for all of us. It was fun just seeing the ups and downs of the group, but we all played pretty well. It was a lot of fun," he said.

However, DeChambeau quickly pivoted to emphasize his strategic approach, clearly referencing Faldo's earlier comments about links play.

"I think you've got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course. I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super hard on placing it in the right places," he said in a clear reference to Faldo's comments. "Besides 18, I placed the ball in some good areas. But I just need to hit more fairways. Other than that, I feel like my strategy was nice today."

Historical Context Supports DeChambeau's Strengths

While DeChambeau has certainly faced criticism this season, the data reveals that his off-the-tee performance has actually been among his strongest attributes in recent Open Championships. In 2025, when he finished tied for 10th at Royal Portrush, he ranked second in the entire field for strokes gained off the tee. The previous year, 2024, saw him gain 1.38 strokes off the tee, though poor approach play caused him to miss the cut. His 2023 campaign similarly highlighted his driving as his best category, and when he finished tied for eighth in 2022, he once again gained strokes off the tee.

Over the last four Open Championships, DeChambeau's driving has consistently been a strength, even when other aspects of his game required improvement. This statistical reality suggests that while his strategic approach may have been questioned, his ability to generate distance and position off the tee remains elite. The combination of his raw power and the strategic adjustments he's making could prove crucial as the season progresses and more major championships approach.