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Bryson DeChambeau endured a nightmare opening day at Augusta National on Thursday, with the 32-year-old American finishing on four-over-par despite entering the tournament as one of the favourites for the green jacket, before then giving a tense interview. The golfer known as the "Mad Scientist" struggled throughout his first 18 holes, ultimately signing for a 76 that has left his title hopes hanging by a thread. Many had expected DeChambeau to mount a serious challenge this week, but his performance fell well short of those expectations. Visibly agitated during his post-round media duties, the American made clear his frustration with how the day had unfolded at the year's first major. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The nadir of DeChambeau's round came at the 11th hole, where a bunker proved his undoing in spectacular fashion. The American required three shots simply to escape the sand, duffing his attempts before finally finding the green. That calamitous sequence produced a triple bogey that effectively ended any realistic hopes of challenging for the title. After an opening round 4-over par 76 Bryson DeChambeau was about as livid as I've ever seen post round. Gone were the charismatic 2 minute responses and replaced with short choppy answers. pic.twitter.com/ogcUye1MVr — Chris McKee (@mrmckee) April 9, 2026 When pressed on what went wrong in the bunker, DeChambeau offered little explanation. "The bunker was softer than I anticipated," he said curtly, declining to expand further on the mishap. His iron play proved problematic throughout the round, with the American admitting afterwards: "Today I didn't have my irons under control." LATEST SPORTS NEWS: Lando Norris relationship update after reigning F1 champion got fans talking with public appearance Jonny Clayton sends message to Luke Littler after darts fans booed teenage sensation Rory McIlroy reveals texts from Tiger Woods that angered wife Erica Stoll Questions about his much-discussed 3D-printed five iron drew a particularly sharp response from the American. DeChambeau revealed he had used the innovative club just once during his troubled round. "It prints in eight hours, machines in another three or four hours. Then you have to cut grooves in it, and do a bunch of other stuff. So you can have something within a day and a half," he explained. When a reporter suggested he might produce additional clubs before the weekend, DeChambeau dismissed the idea with evident irritation. "No! It has to be USGA-conforming. There's a whole process you have to go through," he retorted. The governing body had only recently approved his five iron after previous unsuccessful attempts to gain clearance. The contrast with defending champion Rory McIlroy could hardly have been starker. The Northern Irishman produced an excellent opening round to sit tied for the lead at five-under-par heading into Friday's second round. DeChambeau now faces a daunting task to salvage his tournament, with historical precedent firmly against him. Over the past two decades, every Masters champion has recorded a first-round score of 72 or better, making his 76 a significant obstacle. Asked about his strategy for the second round, the American offered a measured response. "I've just got to take what the golf course gives me, try to hit my irons better," he said. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
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