Full Breakdown
Faldo Slams DeChambeau’s Links Strategy Ahead of the 2026 Open
7/14/2026, 9:25:38 PM
Core Event
Two days before the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, six-time major champion Sir Nick Faldo told the Sky Sports Golf podcast that Bryson DeChambeau “has zero clue of strategy” when it comes to links golf. Faldo’s blunt assessment comes as DeChambeau seeks to halt a streak of missed cuts in the year’s first three majors and to prove his new 3D-printed irons can compete on the demanding coastal course.
Background & Context
DeChambeau entered 2026 with two major victories (the 2024 U.S. Open and the 2025 Open tie for 10th) but has missed the cut at the PGA Championship, the Masters and the U.S. Open. His last-year Open showing at Royal Portrush produced a first-round 78 followed by a finish tied for 10th after he declared the driver “would be key” to conquering the links. On the LIV Golf circuit he has won both LIV Golf Singapore and LIV Golf South Africa in March, reinforcing his reputation as a distance-focused “Mad Scientist.”
Data & Statistics
- Missed the cut in the first three 2026 majors (PGA Championship, Masters, U.S. Open).
- Cumulative 18-over-par across those three events.
- Top-30 finishes at The Open only twice in eight appearances.
- Two LIV Golf victories this season.
- Previously tied for 10th at the 2025 Open after a 78-stroke opening round.
Official Statements & Responses
DeChambeau expressed optimism about Royal Birkdale, saying, “This is a tough golf course; I like it,” and highlighted his equipment, noting, “I’ve got new irons in the bag. They were 3D-printed. They take about an hour to print.” Fellow LIV player Jon Rahm, a betting favorite, warned that over-reliance on the driver can backfire in a four-round Open, stating, “If you start pulling out drivers in an Open Championship, you can do a good job short term… Over four rounds, you’re going to start finding spots you don’t want to be in, and you’re going to pay the price.”
Criticism & Opposition
Faldo argued that links golf demands precision over power, emphasizing “humps and bumps” and the narrow 20-yard fairways. He contrasted this with DeChambeau’s “bombing” approach, suggesting it leaves players “completely blocked out on a links.” Faldo also pointed to a broader trend, observing, “That’s a whole part of the story, how they’re superstars at LIV, then come over and can’t do it,” implying that DeChambeau’s struggles are part of a pattern among LIV alumni.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I'd say it to his face -- DeChambeau has zero clue of strategy,” — Sir Nick Faldo, Sky Sports Golf podcast
- “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.” — Sir Nick Faldo, Sky Sports Golf podcast
- “This is a tough golf course; I like it,” — Bryson DeChambeau, Live At The Range interview
- “That's a whole part of the story, how they're superstars at LIV, then come over and can't do it,” — Sir Nick Faldo, Sky Sports Golf podcast
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on DeChambeau’s Open record: one notes only two top-30 finishes in eight appearances, while another emphasizes a tied-for-10th finish in 2025 as his best recent result. No source provides detailed round-by-round projections for his performance at Royal Birkdale, leaving his actual chances uncertain.
