Chamblee Blasts DeChambeau After 3 Missed Cuts in 2026 Majors

Q: With two LIV wins but three major missed cuts, is DeChambeau's 2026 season a success or a massive failure?

It is largely a failure, even if not a total one. Two LIV wins in 2026 matter. They show DeChambeau is still capable of winning against strong fields, and his additional top-three finishes reinforce that his game has not disappeared. Injuries also provide real context: he has dealt with a wrist issue and ongoing left-shoulder discomfort, which likely affected both preparation and performance. But for a player of DeChambeau’s stature, majors are the standard by which a season is judged. He has missed the cut at Augusta, Aronimink and Shinnecock, and arrives at Royal Birkdale trying to avoid missing all four major cuts in one year — a historically damaging outcome for a multiple major champion. That is why the criticism from Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee has landed so hard. Faldo’s point is strategic: DeChambeau’s power-first style does not fit demanding major setups, especially links golf. Chamblee’s criticism is broader, arguing his focus has drifted from elite competition. The numbers support the concern. His major form has collapsed from a 2025 season that included a T5 at the Masters, T2 at the PGA and T10 at The Open. At Shinnecock, his iron play and putting were especially poor, suggesting this is not just bad luck. So the fairest reading is that 2026 has been a split season: successful on LIV, deeply disappointing where legacy is made. Unless he contends seriously at Royal Birkdale, the major failures outweigh the LIV victories.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 15

Three missed cuts at Augusta, Aronimink and Shinnecock have turned Bryson DeChambeau into, in Brandel Chamblee's words, one of golf's biggest surprises of 2026.
Chamblee said DeChambeau has gone from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to "chasing Grant Horvat," arguing the LIV golfer seems more focused on YouTube-golf culture than beating top rivals.
Nick Faldo piled on before Royal Birkdale, saying DeChambeau has "zero clue of strategy" on links courses and criticizing his stated plan to "attack" them rather than play with restraint.
The slump contrasts with DeChambeau's stronger recent major record — a 2024 U.S. Open win and 2025 finishes of T5, T2 and T10 around one missed cut — though the report notes injuries may also be affecting him.
Royal Birkdale is his last 2026 major chance to answer those doubts, especially because majors remain the main yardstick for judging LIV players against Scheffler and McIlroy.