British Open 2024: Bryson DeChambeau, Rory McIlroy struggle mightily in return to majors

A month ago, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau combined for one of the most convincing, nail-biting US Open finishes in recent memory. They both trashed Royal Troon on Thursday and are well behind the leaders. Both can bounce back from early setbacks — they certainly have before — but they still have work to do to get back in the race.

McIlroy shot a 7-over 78, while DeChambeau did slightly better at 5-over.

“You play your practice rounds, you have a strategy that you think is going to help you get around the course, but then you get a wind that you haven’t played in yet, then different options start to open up and you start thinking about hitting a couple of clubs that you haven’t hit in practice,” McIlroy said. “Just one of those days where I just didn’t adapt well enough to the conditions.”

“I haven’t really played in the rain that much,” DeChambeau said. “Yeah, it’s a tough test here. It’s not something I’m familiar with. I never grew up with it, and that’s not the reason; I was eighth at St. Andrews. I can do it when it’s warm and not windy.”

DeChambeau, who won that U.S. Open match, stumbled from the start at Royal Troon, bogeying his first hole and three of his first four. He would make the turn at 6-over, one of many players who found Troon’s front nine much tougher than expected.

The back nine was ultimately kinder to DeChambeau; he parred his way to bogey on the 15th but managed an eagle on the par-5 16th. He would finish with a 76, eight strokes off the clubhouse lead.

Two groups behind DeChambeau, McIlroy had his rough patch around the turn. He cleared a bogey on the first hole with a birdie on the third. But the wheels fell off with a double-bogey on the par-3 8th, followed by a bogey on the 10th and another double on the 11th. McIlroy finished with bogeys on the 15th and 18th to finish the day at 7-over, a full 10 strokes behind the leader.

“Tough day,” McIlroy said after the round. “I was actually surprised how tough I found the back nine. I thought we were going to have a little bit of an easier time than we did. The course played tough. The conditions are really tough with wind that we haven’t seen this week.”

Torrential rain and 23 mph winds wreaked havoc on the field all morning. Justin Thomas battled to a 3-under with two birdies to close out his round, a number that held steady all morning.

Along with Scottie Scheffler, McIlroy and DeChambeau were two of the favorites going into this week. Scheffler is part of Thursday’s afternoon wave, which tees off shortly after DeChambeau, but it’s already clear that two of the game’s biggest names will have to scramble to make it through the weekend.

“I just have to focus on tomorrow and try to make the cut,” McIlroy said. “That’s all I can focus on.”

“That’s golf, man,” DeChambeau said. “It’s frustrating, but look, at the end of the day, it’s golf, and I can relax and enjoy watching other people play in this rain. I’m going to figure it out.”