Bryson DeChambeau lets Nick Faldo know how he feels with Open comment | Golf | Sport

He did, however, speak to the R&A’s in-house media team, where he seized the opportunity to fire back at Faldo in pointed fashion. The six-time major champion had laid into DeChambeau earlier in the week on Sky Sports, claiming the LIV man had “no strategy” ahead of his opening round. DeChambeau, 32, lost no time in hitting back at the legendary golfer through his own assessment of his round. He was not directly questioned about Faldo’s remarks, yet managed to deliver his response in his own inimitable way.

In an unmistakable reply to the ‘strategy’ jibe, DeChambeau said: “I think you’ve got to be a lot more strategic out on the golf course. I feel like I did a really good job today of being incredibly strategic and focused super hard on placing it in the right places.

“Besides 18, I placed the ball in some good areas. I just need to hit more fairways. Other than that, I feel like my strategy was nice today.”

The tactics weren’t quite so effective on Friday when he was served a two-shot penalty at the par-four fifth hole at Royal Birkdale. DeChambeau was adjudged to have trampled on the grass surrounding his ball to give himself a better lie.

DeChambeau played his opening round alongside fellow LIV man Tyrrell Hatton and World No.1 Scottie Scheffler. And he was refreshingly candid about the lessons he gleaned from the experience.

“It was fun playing with Scottie, seeing how good he strikes the ball,” he said. “That’s something – I’ve wanted to play with him for a while now. Seeing how he struck the ball today was beautiful.

“Makes me think, ‘Oh, man, I’ve got to work on my driving and 3-wood a little bit better because I hit it farther than him,’ but it sometimes doesn’t go straight. It’s a good gauge, right? It tells me kind of where my game’s at. Also shows me where he’s at. It’s good to see it in person.

“You always see it on TV, but it’s just a little different sometimes when you’re right there. That’s why it’s cool for people to be out here and see what Scottie and myself and Tyrrell can do, and everybody out here. It’s a great bunch of guys, and it was fun to play today.”