We are not in Pinehurst anymore.
After Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy dueled at the U.S. Open last month, both are off to brutal starts in windy conditions at Royal Troon in the first round of the British Open on Thursday morning.
DeChambeau shot a six-over 42 on the front nine, including a double bogey on the par-5 sixth.
The US Open champ shot 1-under on the back to at least keep himself somewhat in the mix after he missed several short putts early as part of his struggles, according to SI.com.
DeChambeau, who has one top-10 in five British Open starts, was feeling confident he could contend heading into the tournament.
“[I’m] very confident, obviously,” DeChambeau told reporters Wednesday, per CBS Sports. “It all depends if I’m striking it well. I can come in here with the most confidence, obviously, off of a major championship win. Played decent last week as well. Really what matters is if I can continue to drive the ball as well as I have and ball strike my irons the way I know I can and putt the way I know I can. If I do those three things well, even four things with chipping and bunker play and on the greens, I’ll give myself a chance.
“I know how to get the job done. It’s just a matter of if I’m as consistent as I was at the U.S. Open last week and a few other venues as well. If I can play the golf that I have been, I think I’ll give myself a great chance.”
McIlroy, who cost himself the U.S. Open by missing two short putts on the final three holes, will have to fight back to contend at this major.
McIlroy was even-par through seven holes before double-bogeying the Postage Stamp 8th hole after his second shot from the bunker rolled back to his feet after leaving it short.
The Northern Irishman compounded his issues by driving out of bounds near the train tracks on the par-4 11th, leading to another double bogey.
McIlroy — playing in his second tournament since his U.S. Open debacle — finished 7-over par on the day.
“I went from being very disappointed and dejected to trying to focus on the positives to then wanting to learn from the negatives and then getting to the point where you become enthusiastic and motivated to go again,’’ McIlroy said this week. “It’s funny how your mindset can go from ‘I don’t want to see a golf course for a month’ to like four days later being can’t wait to get another shot at it. When that disappointment turns to motivation, that’s when it’s time to go again.”
Sahith Theegala (6-over), Max Homa (5-over), Tommy Fleetwood (5-over), Sungjae Im (5-over), Viktor Hovland (4-over) and Ludvig Aberg (4-over) were the other big names who struggled as part of the early groups.
Justin Thomas was the clubhouse leader at 3-under after birdieing the final two holes of his round.
