Bryson DeChambeau faded on weekend after controversy, says 'I can hold my head high'

There was no great crescendo to the Bryson DeChambeau show at Royal Birkdale.

Rather, there were four straight pars to end the round, a T-14 finish and a group of fans who seemed totally unbothered by one of the most unusual Open Championship campaigns in recent memory.

The two-time U.S. Open winner walked past the press area and out to a group of fans waiting for photographs and autographs with one of golf’s most newsworthy characters. For the fourth straight day, he didn’t do a formal press conference. After signing and posing for selfies, DeChambeau even gave a young English lad, who asked nicely, the hat he wore during a final-round 72.

It came hours after DeChambeau made the turn on Sunday at one over before disaster struck at the par-4 11th. The 32-year-old hit his tee shot into the deep, tall grass left, took two shots to get near the green, but couldn’t find his ball in the deep grass. DeChambeau then had to hit a fifth shot from 118 yards and two-putted for a triple-bogey 7.

Although he made birdies at 13 and 14, DeChambeau ultimately carded pars all the way in from 15. His weekend rounds of one-under 69 and one-over 72 gave him a 72-hole total of four under, six shots behind winner Ryan Fox.

It was an anticlimax to a spectacular Friday night when DeChambeau disagreed with the R&A over a two-shot penalty.

R&A officials informed DeChambeau after his second round that video footage showed he improved his path swing by trampling down fescue at the fifth hole. The 66 swings he took to get to seven under were adjusted to 68, and his total from seven under to five under. DeChambeau argued his case to no avail and ultimately threatened to withdraw from the event while hitting balls deep into the Southport night.

On Sunday, DeChambeau answered several questions when Golf Digest walked with him through a closed-off area near the media centre.

“I gave it my all this week, and that’s all I care about,” DeChambeau told Golf Digest.

Asked a follow-up—whether he was happy with his weekend play—DeChambeau answered, “I am. I wish I could’ve hit a couple of shots better. But I battled and fought and I can hold my head high.”

As it turns out, fans in this part of England will get an encore, given the big-hitting Californian will tee up next week at LIV Golf U.K. at the JCB course only 90 minutes from Royal Birkdale.

“Yes sir, excited for next week,” DeChambeau said.

Like all shows, this one must go on.

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