Bryson DeChambeau skips media and range session after disastrous start to The Open

Bryson DeChambeau passed on speaking to the media and skipped a late-night range session after a disastrous start to The Open. 

DeChambeau may not have the best Open record but his performances in the major championships over the last few years led many to believe the big-hitting American would mount a challenge for the Claret Jug at Royal Portrush. 

Yet the 31-year-old, who won the US Open in 2024, will in all likelihood be making an early exit from the final men's major of the year. 

DeChambeau carded a seven-over 78 on Thursday that included three bogeys, two double bogeys and an air shot. 

The whiff occurred on the fourth hole where DeChambeau was left in a brutal spot in the high grass with an outrageously awkward stance. 

Even on his fourth stroke, his ball hardly went anywhere. 

Watch here:

No wonder DeChambeau wasn't in the mood to offer his thoughts and decided to skip media duties.

He also wasn't spotted on the range, which was odd considering we know DeChambeau is a range rat and loves nothing more than digging it out of the dirt no matter where he is on the leaderboard. 

DeChambeau has played in seven Open Championships and missed three cuts. 

Looks like he's heading for a fourth...

Five-way tie for the lead

Five players share the lead after 18 holes of The Open. 

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Harris English, Jacob Skov Olesen, Haotong Li and Matthew Fitzpatrick all carded four-under 67s. 

DeChambeau's LIV peer Tyrrell Hatton is a stroke adrift of the lead alongside pre-tournament favourite Scottie Scheffler. 

Masters champion Rory McIlroy is three off the summit after producing an opening round that thrilled and frustrated his home fans. 

McIlroy hit just two of 14 fairways but still managed to finish the day in the red numbers. 

Read Andy Roberts' round one report here. 

McIlroy was roared on by thousands of fans who followed him round Portrush for more than five hours. 

"Look, I feel the support of an entire country out there, which is a wonderful position to be in, but at the same time, you don't want to let them down," McIlroy said. "So there's that little bit of added pressure.

"I felt like I dealt with it really well today. Certainly dealt with it better than I did six years ago. I was just happy to get off to a good start and get myself into the tournament."

McIlroy was referencing the fact he missed the cut here six years ago. 

He hit his first tee shot out of bounds and, despite a spirited effort in round two, came up one stroke short of making the cut. 

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