This weekend marks the two-year anniversary of Bryson DeChambeau's second U.S. Open major championship, but it may as well have been a decade ago. With his performance at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, DeChambeau added another chapter to a season that many are calling the most embarrassing of his career. Missing the cut at the 126th U.S. Open after finishing two rounds at 5-over par, he now has three missed cuts in the three major tournaments of 2026.

The numbers are stark. DeChambeau failed to make the weekend at the Masters in April, then missed the cut at the PGA Championship in May, and now the U.S. Open. Only one major remains—The Open Championship in July. Should he miss that cut as well, it would be a clean sweep of missed cuts for the season, a feat that would be unprecedented for a player of his caliber.

The rise and fall of a golf enigma

Bryson DeChambeau's career has been a rollercoaster. He burst onto the scene with a unique analytical approach, famously using single-length irons and a scientific method to break down the game. His early years were marked by a brash personality and a relentless quest for distance, which led him to bulk up and swing with extreme speed. While he was often criticized for slow play and arrogance, he also drew a legion of fans fascinated by his unconventional style.

His first major came at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where he overpowered the course with brute strength and precision. That victory cemented his status as a star. Then in 2024, he won his second U.S. Open in a thrilling duel with Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst. That win seemed to signal his arrival among the game's elite. For about two years, he was a consistent contender, finishing no worse than tenth in all but two majors from 2024 through 2025.

But something changed. After joining LIV Golf in 2022, DeChambeau became a central figure in the Saudi-backed league. While he enjoyed financial security and a less demanding schedule, his competitive edge began to dull. His game, once built on controlled aggression, became erratic. The switch to LIV meant fewer rounds against the world's best on tough course setups, and his iron play and short game suffered as a result.

The current state: a shadow of his former self

At Shinnecock Hills, DeChambeau never looked comfortable. In the first round, he struggled off the tee and missed several short putts, posting a 4-over 74. The second round started brightly with a birdie on the first hole, but then came a series of bogeys and doubles. By the time he walked off the 18th green, his 5-over total left him three shots outside the cut line. It was a microcosm of his entire season: flashes of brilliance undermined by costly mistakes.

This is not just a slump; it is a complete unraveling. DeChambeau admitted in recent interviews that he has been experimenting with swing changes, trying to regain the power that once made him feared. But those changes have not produced results. Meanwhile, his mental game seems fragile. He has been seen venting frustration on the course, slamming clubs, and arguing with caddies. The confident swagger is gone, replaced by a bewildered look.

Adding to the drama is DeChambeau's growing focus on his YouTube channel. He has built a massive following by posting viral videos of trick shots, course vlogs, and collaborations with other influencers. At a LIV Golf event in May, he told reporters that he would love to grow his channel three times larger and that he would love to play tournaments that want him. That comment raised eyebrows, suggesting that his priorities may have shifted away from winning major championships.

Context: LIV Golf's decline and its impact

DeChambeau's struggles cannot be separated from the broader decline of LIV Golf. At the 2026 U.S. Open, only six of the 13 LIV golfers made the cut. Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith, both major champions, also missed. The league, once touted as a rival to the PGA Tour, has lost momentum. Television ratings are down, and many players have seen their world rankings plummet because LIV events do not earn Official World Golf Ranking points. For DeChambeau, that means he must rely on special exemptions to play in majors, or try to qualify through regional events. So far, those opportunities have only highlighted his decline.

The absence of competitive pressure on a weekly basis is a well-documented issue for LIV players. The PGA Tour's weekly grind, with tough courses and deep fields, hones players for the rigors of major championships. LIV's 54-hole, no-cut events offer a more relaxed environment. When the majors come around, with their 72-hole, cut-line pressure, LIV players often look rusty. DeChambeau is the most glaring example.

Key facts and statistics

• Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut at the 2026 U.S. Open after rounds of 74 and 71, finishing 5-over par.
• This marks his third consecutive missed cut in a major this season (Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open).
• He has not played a weekend round in a major since the 2025 Open Championship, where he finished tied for 12th.
• His last win was the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. He has not won any tournament, including LIV events, since then.
• DeChambeau has openly discussed prioritizing his YouTube channel, which has over 2 million subscribers, over professional golf.
• He is one of only six LIV Golf players to win a major, but his recent form has sparked debate about his future in the sport.

What went wrong? A breakdown

Golf analysts point to several factors. First, DeChambeau's driving accuracy, once a weakness he masked with power, has become a liability. At Shinnecock, he hit only 50% of fairways. When you are out of position on a demanding layout, bogeys are inevitable. Second, his putting, which was elite during his prime, has regressed. He ranked 112th in strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour in 2025, and the numbers are worse this year.

Third, course management. DeChambeau has always had a habit of going for risky shots, but he used to pull them off. Now, those decisions look reckless. At the Masters, a triple bogey on the 18th hole in the second round sent him home. At the PGA, he made a double bogey from the middle of the fairway. The confidence that once allowed him to execute high-risk plays has evaporated.

Finally, the mental toll. The pressure of being a former champion who is now a social media star is immense. Every missed cut becomes a headline. Every bad swing is analyzed. DeChambeau has admitted to feeling lost. In a recent podcast, he said, "I'm trying to find my way back. I know I have the talent. But golf is hard when you're searching." That search has not yielded answers.

Other LIV players have also struggled. Phil Mickelson, now 56, is a shell of his former self. Brooks Koepka has been inconsistent. Dustin Johnson, once world number one, has not contended in a major since 2020. The theory that LIV's format breeds complacency seems more plausible every week.

The Open Championship: a final chance

With one major left in 2026, DeChambeau has a chance to salvage some pride. The Open Championship at Royal Liverpool will test his ability to adapt to links golf, a style that requires creativity and patience. In the past, DeChambeau has shown he can play in wind and firm conditions. But after three straight misses, any prediction is shaky. If he misses the cut at The Open, he will have gone an entire season without playing a weekend at a major. That would be a stain on a resume that includes two U.S. Open titles.

Meanwhile, his YouTube empire continues to grow. He recently released a video where he hit golf balls off the roof of a moving car, a stunt that garnered millions of views. The question is whether he can still be both an entertainer and a competitor. Golf history is full of players who lost their edge when their attention divided, from John Daly to Ian Poulter. DeChambeau may be the next.

For now, the golf world watches with a mix of pity and curiosity. Once a polarizing figure, he has become a cautionary tale. The 2026 season will be remembered as the year Bryson DeChambeau went from major champion to also-ran. The only drama left is whether he can stop the freefall before it becomes a permanent state.

Source: MSN News