Never give up: DeChambeau improves by 13 strokes, makes cut at The Open

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland – His first inclination was simply to go home. Frustrated and birdie-free after the worst opening score in any major in his career, Bryson DeChambeau left Royal Portrush on Thursday night with thoughts of escape. Not physically, of course – he still had 18 more holes to play – but mentally. Just check out.

We’ve all been there.

But after wrestling with his emotions, DeChambeau awoke Friday morning with a completely different outlook. His fighting spirit had returned. For the professional golfer who most relies on data, analytics and hard-drive numbers, it was time to lean into his senses.

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And that’s how you bounce back from a 7-over 78 to shoot a 6-under 65 and make the cut at The Open Championship. It’s his biggest improvement from one round to the next in his major career. Cancel that trip home.

“I woke up this morning and I said, you know what, I can’t give up,” the Crushers GC captain said. “My dad always told me to never give up, just got to keep going – and that’s what I did today.

“I was proud of the way I fought back. Really persevered through some emotionally difficult moments. To hold myself together and not get pissed and slam clubs and throw things and all that like I wanted to – I was very proud of myself.”

The opening round couldn’t have gone worse for DeChambeau, who suffered two double bogeys, three bogeys (including on his last two holes), hit just four fairways and seven greens in regulation, and was one of just five players failing to make a single birdie. On the leaderboard, he was tied for 144th. Mentally, he was even further behind.

But then DeChambeau thought of his dad. And also of the young kids who follow him on his social feeds, watch his videos, ask for his autographs. What kind of example would he be setting if he just mailed it in?

“I want to be a good role model for kids,” he said. “I struggled with that in the early part of my career. I want to be different now.”

Different on Friday consisted of increased accuracy off the tee; a ridiculously potent approach game – he hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation; and solid putting in the drier conditions that he prefers.

He birdied both par 5s on the front, then rolled in a 16-1/2 footer for birdie at the ninth. After his lone bogey of the day, he bounced back with three consecutive birdies from holes 12-14 and added another one at the 17th when he knocked his approach shot from the native area to 8 feet.

He desperately wanted one more birdie to get back to even par for the tournament but couldn’t get his 18-footer at the last to drop. He grimaced hard but also appreciated the big cheers from the gallery who applauded his effort to give them two more rounds this weekend.

“Great to get that type of ovation coming down because I didn’t want to leave,” he said.

He may need a couple of more 65s to have any chance of chasing down the leaders this weekend. Realistically, it looks like the Claret Jug will belong to someone else on Sunday. But perhaps Friday’s round will pay off in future efforts by DeChambeau at this tournament.

Links courses are not a natural fit for him, but neither were they for another popular California golfer. Phil Mickelson eventually unlocked the secret and won in 2013, calling it the proudest moment of his career because it showed his ability to win on any type of set-up. DeChambeau may be on a similar path.

“In order to be a complete golfer, you’ve got to win over here,” DeChambeau said. “That's something I've struggled to do. I've played well at times when it's dry and greens are more consistent in their bounce, and the greens are a little bit better. But when it gets as chaotic as this, with the wind going every which way, flipping on 18 completely, when you're preparing all day for that left-to-right wind off 18, you have to be a complete golfer that pivots on demand.

“I think he's right; it's the most proud moment of his career, which is awesome. For me, if it was ever to happen in my career, it probably would be the proudest as well.”

As he headed toward the exit, the rain that had mercifully stayed away during his round began coming down fast. His competitors would have to handle it the rest of the day. DeChambeau was headed back to his local accommodations, thoughts of escape having been replaced by the possibilities of a brighter future, despite the gloomy weather.