DeChambeau, Rahm need ‘Herculean’ response after tough opening rounds

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau each entered Thursday’s first round of the Masters in terrific form and full of confidence, ready to meet expectations as two of the more notable favorites this week. 

Eighteen holes later, they are now the chasers – and they’re far behind. First, they’ll have to chase the cut line just to reach the weekend. Provided that happens, they’ll still have plenty of work to do to chase down the leaders, given the large separation that now exists. 

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It was a tough opening day for LIV Golf’s top two players this season. DeChambeau suffered a triple-bogey 7 at the par-4 11th en route to a 4-over 76 while Rahm did not record a single birdie for the first time in 37 career Masters rounds, shooting a 6-over 78 for his highest single-round score at Augusta National. 

Both players will start Friday’s second round outside the top 50 and ties that make the Masters cut. 

Rahm, the 2023 champion, has never missed a cut in nine previous starts at Augusta National. He ended the first round tied for 73rd – his worst position after any Masters round. He’s 11 shots behind co-leaders Sam Burns and Rory McIlroy.

“It's going to be a very much more uphill battle right now,” the Legion XIII captain said, “but I'm going to have to come out tomorrow and most likely post something in the 60s to have a chance to make the cut and give myself a chance on the weekend.” 

DeChambeau is tied for 56th, his worst first-round position of his 10 Masters starts and is 11 shots back. The Crushers GC, winner of the last two LIV Golf tournaments (Singapore and South Africa), seemed a bit shell-shocked at Thursday’s developments. 

“Everybody has an ability for weird things to happen, and today I just did not have my irons under control, which is weird,” he said. “It's been good coming into it.” 

DeChambeau bounced back from a bogey at the par-5 second with a birdie at the short third, then put together seven consecutive pars prior to stepping on the tee at the par-4 11th. His approach shot from the fairway found the right bunker. That’s when the real disaster struck, as it took him three shots to find the putting surface. 

His explanation after his round? “Bunker was softer than I anticipated,” he said.

In the final round of last year’s Masters, DeChambeau’s hopes faded with a double-bogey at the 11th when he found the creek on the left side. Asked if he was cognizant of not going left again, he replied: “The ball flew 12 yards father than I wanted it to. I had a good shot.” 

He then ended his round with a bogey-birdie-bogey finish, leaving him with plenty to digest overnight. 

“Just going to give what the golf course gives me,” he said when asked about his approach moving forward. “I have to try to hit my irons better. I drove it left numerous occasions. Did a great job on 18. Wind didn’t hurt it like we thought, and that’s this golf course.” 

Rahm started his round with a bogey, suffered three more at holes 3, 6 and 9, but had a chance to produce something positive after his tee shot at the par-5 13th bounced into the fairway after it appeared to be headed left into trouble, a break he desperately wanted to capitalize on. 

Instead, his next shot left him wondering what happened, as he found the shrubs left of the green, leading to a double bogey – his first-ever at the 13th. 

“I still don't know what happened, honestly,” he said. “To get so lucky off the tee, to have an 8-iron in my hand, I don't know, that ball came out about 10 yards left, 20 feet higher, and hooking in a way that I didn't expect. To make such a mistake from what could have been a good birdie look, it's a big problem. 

“It's probably the part I'm the most upset at today. On that hole, you know, I'm 4-over. If I put it on the green, two-putt, 3-over. Still not good, but a little bit more manageable, right? That was very a possible three-shot swing after how lucky I got off the tee.” 

Asked to process his round, Rahm replied: “It's a hard golf course. Some of the players might have been able to manage a respectable round, but when you have no feel with the swing whatsoever, it's just not an easy one. What I manage? Hopefully get some physio, get some dinner, get something positive going in that sense. Tomorrow is a new day.” 

Perhaps he can lean on last year when he shot his previous worst round at Augusta, opening with a 75 that left him tied for 63rd. He bounced back the next day with a 71 to make the cut, eventually finishing tied for 14th. Not the result he wanted but at least respectable given the start. 

Of course, this week’s challenge is even larger. 

“I’ve done that a few times,” he said, “but it still sucks to be in this position, to need a Herculean effort the next two days to give myself a chance to maybe sniff having a chance to win. It’s just frustrating.” 

Top image: Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau hits a shot on No. 17 during Round 1 of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 9, 2026. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf)