​Bryson DeChambeau’s Open Championship history has been a mix of promise and frustration. Outside of two top-10 finishes, his best Open result has been a tie for 33rd, and he has missed the cut three times. As the Open Championship heads to Royal Birkdale this year, questions about his form linger, especially with his last three major appearances ending in missed cuts. CBS analyst Johnson Wagner has suggested that DeChambeau may miss the cut again, pointing out that his recent Open performances have not lived up to his potential, with the standout exception being a favorable final three rounds last year when the wind cooled.
DeChambeau’s game is built around power off the tee, but his overall profile at The Open highlights a mismatch between his strengths and the demands of this event. The Open requires precision and control in unpredictable winds, qualities that have rarely aligned with DeChambeau’s current approach. His approach play and short game have regressed, limiting his ability to capitalize on his length off the tee. While he can overpower certain courses, the Open rotation emphasizes ball flight management and finesse, areas where DeChambeau has struggled.
Wagner has been blunt about the challenge: “He isn’t built for The Open Championship. There’s a much better chance of him missing the cut at Royal Birkdale than even getting to the weekend.” The sentiment is echoed by observers who note that before 2026, DeChambeau had shown top-10 potential in six of his last eight majors, but The Open has stubbornly resisted his breakthrough on golf’s biggest stages.
To contend at The Open, DeChambeau will need to overhaul elements of his game that have deteriorated since his peak major runs. His wedge and around-the-green play, in particular, lag behind his driving, leaving him exposed when course conditions demand creativity around the greens. Current statistics place him in the 99th percentile off the tee, but his approach from 50 to 150 yards sits around the 50th percentile, and his short-game metrics lag as well. When you combine poor driving accuracy with average-to-below-average wedge play, his overall profile for success at the Open remains uncertain.
As the LIV Golf era unfolds and the calendar turns toward the year’s final major, DeChambeau’s trajectory raises questions about his place in the sport. If he hopes to break through at The Open, he will likely need to adapt his approach, sharpen his around-the-green skills, and master the wind-driven conditions that define Royal Birkdale. Until then, his Open Championship record remains a narrative of near-misses and unfulfilled potential, punctuated by a handful of competitive moments but little sustained success on golf’s grandest stage.