2024 British Open: Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau at Open Championship

The top two finishers at the 2024 U.S. Open were among the least impressive performers in the first round of the 2024 Open Championship on Thursday. Coming off an epic showdown at Pinehurst No. 2, Bryson DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy began the season’s final major with dismal rounds of 5-over 76 and 7-over 78, respectively. Their scores were higher than the course average of 74.84, as challenging conditions dominated Royal Troon.

DeChambeau entered The Open as one of only two players (alongside Xander Schauffele) to secure top-10 finishes in each of the first three major championships this season. Despite The Open traditionally being a difficult tournament for DeChambeau—having finished inside the top 10 only once in six prior attempts—the American arrived in Scotland with renewed confidence due to his strong performances this year.

That confidence quickly evaporated as DeChambeau bogeyed his opening hole after initially finding the fairway and the green with his first two shots. His ball-striking deteriorated rapidly, failing to hit a green in regulation over the next five holes.

During this period, DeChambeau’s scorecard filled with bogeys on holes 3 and 4, and a double bogey on the par-5 6th. By the sixth hole, DeChambeau was 5 over par, ahead of only a few players, mostly past champions. Another bogey on the 8th hole led to a front-nine score of 42, putting a sub-80 round in jeopardy.

DeChambeau found some stability mid-round, stringing together six consecutive pars. However, another bogey on the 15th hole preceded his lone birdie, a lengthy eagle putt on the par-5 16th. Ultimately, DeChambeau finished with a 76, continuing his struggle to conquer The Open.

“It’s a completely different test. I didn’t get any practice in [this wind direction], and I didn’t really play much in the rain,” DeChambeau remarked. “It’s a difficult test, something I’m not familiar with. I never grew up playing it, and not to say that’s the reason; I finished eighth at St. Andrews. I can do it when it’s warm and not windy.”

Rory McIlroy’s round was similarly fraught with difficulties. His tee shot on the first hole landed on the green but trickled into a greenside bunker. After leaving his second shot at his feet, his third attempt reached the green but left him with a two-putt double bogey, putting him on the defensive.

Starting his back nine with another bogey, McIlroy took an aggressive approach on the tricky par-4 11th, opting for a driver. His tee shot veered right and landed on the railway tracks, necessitating a re-tee. Another double bogey ensued, sinking McIlroy to 5 over par due to this four-hole stretch.

McIlroy added two more bogeys over the final seven holes, including one on the 18th, to finish with a 78. This score represents the fourth-highest of his Open career and the third-highest in an opening round, surpassed only by his 79s at Muirfield in 2013 and Royal Portrush in 2019.

Both DeChambeau and McIlroy now look ahead to their second rounds on Friday afternoon. They will likely find themselves near the cut line, to make it to the weekend for the fourth time at a major championship this year.