US Open 2026: Why Bryson DeChambeau remains a ‘dangerous’ contender despite LIV golf uncertainty and major struggles | golf news

Bryson DeChambeau finds himself in the unfamiliar position of not being among the immediate pre-tournament favorites at the US Open, having seen his major stock fall after a tumultuous start to the year.

The two-time US Open champion missed the first two major cuts of the year despite posting six top-10 major finishes – including back-to-back seconds at the PGA Championship – the previous two seasons.

DeChambeau continues to perform at LIV Golf and has already won the league twice in 2026, though he arrives at Shinnecock Hills with uncertainty about the circuit’s — and his own — long-term future as the formerly Saudi-backed tour seeks new investment.

The 32-year-old previously admitted to putting extra pressure on himself to perform at majors, while DeChambeau has been heavily involved in off-course conversations to help LIV Golf continue beyond the end of this season.

“He was the driving force of it from the players’ side,” said fellow LIV golfer Lori Kanter. Sky Sports Golf Podcast. “He wants to meet the other players, the current outlook, and I know he’s been a huge part of the planning process.

Subscribe Now: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Speaker

“With the YouTube stuff, he can see how global and how wide the game can be through his platform. He’s probably in a pretty unique position to do that, because he’s willing to give more of himself than others.

“He believes in it (team golf) because he personally sees the impact he’s making. He’s in it and I know he makes calls every day, which wouldn’t work for most other golfers — so that confusion continues.”

Can ‘brutal’ DeChambeau stop sharp big fall?

When DeChambeau returned to last year’s US Open as the defending champion and among the world’s top 10, few would have predicted a dramatic drop-off in major results over the next 12 months.

DeChambeau eliminated Rory McIlroy in dramatic fashion at Pinehurst No. 2 in the 2024 edition, winning his second US Open title in five years, then began 2025 by finishing runner-up at the PGA Championship for the second year in a row, following a career-best finish at The Masters.

He struggled on the tee and green during his early exit at the US Open, finishing three strokes under the cut mark, then faltered before posting an improbable top-10 finish with a first-round 78 at The Open a month later.

A final-hole triple-bogey saw him miss the cut at the Masters before he failed to reach the weekend at the PGA Championship last month, opening with a six-over 76, with DeChambeau now looking to avoid three consecutive major misses for the first time.

“Because of the drift, I think it hurt a lot of players’ game,” Golf Channel’s Brandel Chambly said in a media call before the US Open. “When they (others) were considering going to LIV, we saw a lot of profits drop inexplicably.

“Maybe the biggest thing about what’s going on with Bryson this year is that he’s completely in flux. He put a lot into LIV and now there’s a lot of doubt about where he’ll be next year.

“His iron play wasn’t good (in the majors) and his short game was atrocious.”

How ‘Dangerous’ DeChambeau Can Bounce at Shinnecock

DeChambeau has five top-11 finishes in his last six LIV golf starts, including two wins and two thirds, despite continuing to experiment with his equipment — including applying 3D printed irons — during the season.

With the former major champion seemingly ready to switch to a different driver ahead of this week’s major, DeChambeau is looking at new avenues in all areas of his game to find areas for continued improvement.

“What Bryson does is authentic to him and a lot of people don’t understand that,” Kanter added. “Eventually, in his own mind, he has to tick these boxes and maybe turn over stones that other people wouldn’t even consider stones.

“I think it’s part of his process and when it lines up for him, he’s as good as anybody. You could probably make a case that (Shinecock Hills) isn’t the best venue for him, but when he’s lined up and ready and it’s working, he’s good under pressure.

“His pressure holds up under pressure and he’s able to win and compete on the biggest stage, so I think he’s a really dangerous guy to take down. It’ll be interesting to see what version of him comes out.

“If he gets his ducks in a row, he’s a pretty dangerous player.”

Scotty Scheffler has a chance to complete a career Grand Slam this week and Rory McIlroy is chasing his second major win of the season, while a DeChambeau victory would see him join Tiger Woods as the only three-time US Open champions this century.

“If we all had to sit here and name the five most talented players in the game of golf, sure you’d throw Rory (McIlroy) and Scotty (Sheffler) in there, but I mean, you’d have to throw Bryson in there,” Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk said in a media call.

“I realize this year hasn’t been very fast at this point, but he seems to have found a way. I wouldn’t hold it against him with his talent level, that, work ethic, for him to have a good week.”

Furyk added: “He (DeChambeau) could go and just tear it up at Shinnecock – we don’t know. That’s the beauty of live golf, of tournaments, is we all want to watch and see these stories.”

Who will win the US Open? Watch live all week on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or Flow without any contract.