‘Zero clue’: ‘Rattled’ LIV star hits back at golf legend
Bryson DeChambeau has taken a cryptic swipe at golf legend Nick Faldo, who ahead of this weekend’s British Open declared the two-time US Open winner had “zero clue of strategy”.
In the first round on Friday night (AEST), DeChambeau signed for a 3-under 67 to sit two shots off the lead. He is the midst of a dismal major season, having missed the cut in all three this year to-date.
Bryson DeChambeau hit back at comments from Nick Faldo. Getty Images
“I’d say it to his face – he has zero clue of strategy,” Faldo said on Sky Sports this week.
“He said [last year], ‘I’m going to go out and attack the links.’ Well, I’ve never ‘attacked’ a links course.”
DeChambeau is in the middle of a self-imposed media ban that is now into its fifth major. After his round, he spoke only to an R&A official, who did not directly ask about Faldo’s comments.
But the references were impossible to ignore.
“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,” DeChambeau said.
“… I placed the ball in some good areas, I just need to hit more fairways. Other than that, I feel like my strategy was nice today.”
DeChambeau opened with back-to-back birdies, and made three more at 10, 16 and 17. Bogeys on 14 – an ugly three-putt – and 18 were the only two blemishes on an otherwise stunning round.
Faldo would also take credit for DeChambeau’s performance.
“I think I rattled his cage,” Faldo said.
“He has basically stuck you know what up and said, ‘Faldo, I do have strategy’. So I am taking claim that I switched on the strategy play.”
Min Woo Lee, Lucas Herbert and major debutant Cameron John lead the Aussie charge at even-par. Travis Smythe is a shot further back at 1-over.
Making just this third appearance at a major, Smyth played a practice round with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler on Wednesday.
Travis Smyth during the first round of The Open. Getty Images
But when it counted, the occasion might have got the better of him. He made two bogeys in his opening three holes, but recovered somewhat.
“I still shit myself on the first tee. It’s still not easy yet. It’s never going to be easy,” he said.
“It’s just great. Majors is where you want to play, and it’s awesome. Pretty much every hole, apart from 16, was filled, just filled with people that are just parked up there for the day, plus people walking around. The atmosphere was incredible.”
Adam Scott (2-over), Jason Day and Cameron Smith (both 3-over) will need to play well on Friday to make the cut.
A fan-favourite, Scotsman Robert MacIntyre signed for a three-under 67 and gave fans the most relatable moment of the day.
Having sprayed his approach shot on the par-4 18th well right of the green and into the rough, on-course mics caught him quip to his caddie in his thick accent: “Such a shite golf hole this one.”
He still managed to chip to about a metre, and drained the putt to save par.
American Jackson Suber, who until this week had never even been to Europe, leads by a shot after the first round.
But maybe inexperience in links golf was the key to success on a course that was baked under the sun and warm, dry breezes. Five of the top-12 players are playing their first British Opens.
American Jackson Suber (blue) is the overnight leader after the first round. Getty Images
Suber, 26, is playing in just his fourth major, and he’s never made a cut.
“Just kind of kept the ball in good spots and didn’t put much pressure on my game to make pars,” Suber said.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler raced into the early lead when he birdied four of his first six holes, but ran dry for the rest of the round. He ended up signing for a 2-under 68.
“If I continue to strike the ball the way I did today and just keep giving myself looks, that’s part of it,” Scheffler said.
“Golf is played over 72 holes, and I definitely liked what I saw today.”
The second round will continue on Friday evening (AEST).