TROON, Scotland — A month ago, they dueled to the 72nd and final hole of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
In Thursday’s British Open first round, Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy were in survival mode all day and both are in jeopardy of missing the cut at Royal Troon.
McIlroy’s 38th attempt at winning a first major championship in 10 years was dealt a damning blow. McIlroy, who last won a major in 2014, shot a 7-over-par 77 and, when he finished his round was in 132nd place among the 158 players in the field.
DeChambeau, who edged out McIlroy for the U.S. Open title last month, didn’t fare much better, shooting a 5-over-par 75.
DeChambeau was a stunning 5-over-par through his first six holes and made the turn in 42. He somewhat salvaged his round with an eagle 3 on the par-5 16th hole and parred 17 and 18.
“It’s frustrating, but look, at the end of the day it’s golf,’’ DeChambeau said. “I’m going to go figure it out. I’m just proud of the way I persevered today. Shoot, man, I could have thrown in the towel after nine and could have been like, ‘I’m going home.’
“But no, I’ve got a chance tomorrow. I’m excited for the challenge. If I have some putts go in and hit some shots the way I know how to and figure out this equipment stuff, I’ll be good.’’
McIlroy’s round began with a bogey on the first hole, included double bogeys on No. 8, the par-3 “Postage Stamp,’’ and No. 11, where he hit a shot onto the railroad tracks to truly derail his day.
He carded only one birdie in the round, on the third hole.
This was no way for him to forget his forgettable finish at Pinehurst, where he missed short putts on two of the last three holes to leave the door open for DeChambeau to barge through.
“Difficult day,’’ McIlroy said afterward. “I felt like I did OK for the first part of the round and then missed the green at the ‘Postage Stamp’ there and left it in and made a double.’’
He was even par through seven before the double on No. 8.
Both players lamented the different winds on Thursday than they’d practiced in all week as an issue.
“I think, if anything, it was more like the conditions got the better of me, those cross-winds,’’ McIlroy said. “When that happens, you play your practice rounds, you have a strategy that you think is going to help you get around the golf course, but then when you get a wind you haven’t played in, it starts to present different options and you start to think about maybe hitting a few clubs that you haven’t hit in practice.
“Just one of those days where I just didn’t adapt well enough to the conditions.’’
DeChambeau, known as a mad scientist of sorts who tries to figure out and control every possible variable, called Thursday “a completely different test’’ because of the different wind direction.
“I didn’t get any practice in it, and I didn’t really play much in the rain,’’ he said. “It’s a difficult test out here — something I’m not familiar with. I never grew up playing it. I finished eighth at St Andrews (in the 2022 Open). I can do it when it’s warm and not windy.’’
Now, the two players face the difficult challenge of posting a low number to make the 36-hole cut on Friday.
“I’m going to go figure it out,’’ DeChambeau vowed. “I felt like I was swinging it somewhat OK, just the ball wasn’t coming off in that window that I normally see, so it was a weird day.’’
Said McIlroy: “All I need to focus on is tomorrow and try to make the cut. That’s all I can focus on. Just come out and try to play better and be here for the weekend. The conditions look like they’re going to be pretty similar again tomorrow.
“I have to do a better job in those conditions, and I need to go out there and play better and try to shoot something under-par and at least be here for the weekend … if not try to put myself up the leaderboard a bit more and feel like I have half a chance.’’