Bryson DeChambeau entered the 2026 Masters as one of the more intriguing contenders, but his opening round quickly turned into a frustrating uphill battle after carding a 4-over 76 at Augusta National.
The round started with promise, as DeChambeau hovered around even par through the first 10 holes. But everything unraveled at the iconic par-4 11th—part of Augusta’s infamous Amen Corner—where one disastrous sequence changed the entire tone of his day. After a strong drive, his approach found a greenside bunker, and what followed was brutal: three failed attempts to escape the sand, leading to a triple bogey that effectively derailed his round.
From there, DeChambeau never fully recovered.
His iron play proved to be a major issue throughout the day, as he struggled with accuracy and consistency. He hit just 44% of greens in regulation, a number that simply won’t cut it at Augusta, where precision is everything. His misses often left him in difficult positions, forcing him to scramble rather than attack.
There were also signs of frustration creeping in. Earlier in the round, one errant shot even struck a spectator—an unusual and telling moment that summed up how off-target his game was.
By the time he signed his scorecard, DeChambeau found himself tied near the bottom of the leaderboard, a stark contrast to his recent Masters form, where he had consistently been in contention and even played in the final group on Sunday just a year ago.
Meanwhile, the rest of the field took advantage of Augusta’s conditions. Defending champion Rory McIlroy surged to a 5-under 67, while other contenders like Scottie Scheffler remained firmly in the mix. DeChambeau, on the other hand, now faces a steep climb just to make the cut.
Still, if there’s one thing DeChambeau is known for, it’s his relentless work ethic. After the round, he made it clear that adjustments are coming—particularly with his iron play. And at Augusta, where momentum can shift quickly, one strong round can change everything.
But make no mistake: the margin for error is gone. If DeChambeau wants to salvage his Masters hopes, Friday will require nothing short of a complete turnaround.
