Bryson DeChambeau Stumbles in PGA Championship Round 1, Shoots 76 After Missing Masters Cut

Bryson DeChambeau could be headed for a second straight cut at a major tournament in 2026.

DeChambeau headed into the clubhouse after posting a six-over 76 on Thursday in the first round of the 2026 PGA Championship. That's nine shots worse than the leaders, who are sitting at three under.

Coming into the event, one talking point was how much the advancements in technology seemingly removed the challenge of Aronimink Golf Club. Data Golf projected that Rory McIlroy would attempt just 3.6 shots between 150 and 200 yards.

That kind of profile suited DeChambeau's game far more than Augusta National Golf Club, where he historically struggled early in his career and couldn't make the cut in April.

Instead, the first round of the PGA Championship was a disaster for the two-time major champion.

Nothing sums up his day better than his tee shot on No. 2. The ball sailed well right of the fairway and came to a stop on a set of stairs. He eventually took a drop after discussing the matter with a rules official:

A consistent theme across the years for DeChambeau is that things can quickly spiral after one or two setbacks. It didn't take long for that to happen at Aronimink.

The LIV Golf star bogeyed two of his first four holes and then had back-to-back bogeys on No. 17 and 18. Things at least stabilized after he made the turn to the first tee box.

Then came a bogey on the seventh hole and a double on the par-three eighth.

By that point, The Athletic's Ed Mackey wrote DeChambeau was "trudging around this golf course with his shoulders firmly slumped."

Closing the round with a birdie on No. 18 did little to improve his position.

According to the PGA Championship's official site, DeChambeau lost 3.672 strokes around the green and 1.098 strokes with his putting. His short game was nonexistent, nullifying the 335.7 yards he was averaging on his drives.

The playing conditions should be more favorable for Friday's second round, which is a double-edged sword for DeChambeau. He could have an opportunity to post the kind of low score that's required to make the cut, but a lot of the golfers ahead of him in the leaderboard could do the same thing.

Given how far down he sits, it's tough to avoid the conclusion DeChambeau is already toast.