Masters 2026: Bryson DeChambeau's week in Augusta could be over early if this historic stat holds true
J.D. Cuban
AUGUSTA, Ga. — It’s a stat Bryson DeChambeau isn’t going to want to hear, but an obstacle he’s going to have face: No player has ever made a triple bogey and won the Masters.
The two-time U.S. Open champion may well be resigned to history then after the mess he made out of the par-4 11th during Thursday’s opening round at Augusta National.
Even par for the day as he stood on the 11th tee, DeChambeau pumped his drive 347 yards down the right side of the fairway. But his approach shot flew on him, landing in the front right bunker. He failed twice to escape the bunker before finally splashing it out on his third attempt. A triple-bogey 7 left him reeling, and with two more bogeys coming in, DeChambeau signed for a four-over 76, a disappointment considering the confidence he was carrying coming into the event after winning his last two starts on the LIV Golf circuit.
“The bunker was softer than I anticipated,” DeChambeau said by way of explanation for his troubles on the 11th. More telling though was his lament about his iron play, an aspect of his game that has led to frustrating finishes at a handful of majors of late, including last year’s Masters.
“Everybody has an ability for weird things to happen, and today I just did not have my irons under control, which is weird. It's been good coming into it, so ...”
Bryson DeChambeau in the bunker on the par-4 11th Thursday during the opening round of the 2026 Masters.
Augusta National
Indeed, DeChambeau’s scoring average during five LIV appearances is 67.15 with no finish worse than T-24.
Big numbers have haunted DeChambeau before at Augusta National, the golf course he infamously once said should be a par 67 for him. In his past seven Masters starts, DeChambeau has carded 16 double bogeys and two triples.
DeChambeau notably talked earlier in the week about a new 5-iron that he helped design and had 3D printed. After testing it out in practice rounds, he put the club in the bag on Thursday, using it just once however.
Winning, of course, looks like a tall task at this point. The most important short-term goal will be to make the cut. Low 50 and ties play on the weekend, with DeChambeau tied for 60th, nine shots back of co-leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns.
“Just going to give what the golf course gives me. I have to try to hit my irons better. I drove it left numerous occasions. Did a great job on 18. Wind didn't hurt it like we thought, and that's this game. That's the golf course.”