NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Bryson DeChambeau, on a two-game winning streak, will return home early. This time there was no dramatic Friday afternoon collapse like there was at the Masters. Instead, DeChambeau did his damage Thursday with a 76 and never threatened to mount a charge in Friday’s second round. After 36 holes, DeChambeau shot 7 over and missed out on qualifying for the 2026 PGA Championship by three strokes.
DeChambeau entered the week desperate to make a statement about his position within the game’s hierarchy amid the uncertain future of LIV golf. Instead, he only added to the questions he faces as he tries to figure out what’s next in his career. As much as the big-picture issues loom over him, what stands out is how pressing his problems are on the track.
DeChambeau’s issues with iron and wedge play were once again at the forefront of his struggles, and he finished the week well below the top 100 in strokes gained on approach and around the greens. Most worryingly, he doesn’t seem to be that close to making the leap with these clubs, spending hours on the training ground this week trying to find the feeling he never has.
The only good news for DeChambeau? After finishing 36 holes with three straight birdies, the next time we see him play in a major will be at the U.S. Open, where he has won twice. Perhaps that could bring him the positive vibes he needs, but Sinek Hills will once again be a tough test of his ball-striking and require him to find answers he doesn’t currently have.
They say a miserable man loves his company, and DeChambeau is on full display with this week’s Aronimink. He’s not the only notable person to miss out, as Friday’s Trunk Slamming Club features a number of stars who haven’t cracked the code for the Philadelphia-area treasure.
2026 PGA Championship Cutline: Celebrities will miss the weekend
- Michael Block (+5)
- Im Sung Jae (+5)
- Akshay Bhatia (+5)
- Russell Henry (+5)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+5)
- Robert McIntyre (+5)
- Garrick Higgo (+5)
- Wyndham Clark (+5)
- JJ Spahn (+6)
- Viktor Hovland (+6)
- Keegan Bradley (+6)
- Gary Woodland (+6)
- Tyrrell Hutton (+6)
- Bryson DeChambeau (+7)
- Adam Scott (+8)
- Max Homa (+12)
Bullock entered the day at even par, but was unable to recapture the magic of Oak Hill and gradually fell outside the cut line, ultimately finishing the round with two bogeys. Henry, Fleetwood and Yim entered the Ballstriker course with high hopes, but they were not able to achieve their best results. Bhatia got off to a fast start but everything went wrong after the first nine, while Hovland struggled off the jumps and never seemed comfortable with the course.
Higgo could become an accidental breakout star at the PGA Championship, as his two-stroke penalty for being late to his tee time on Thursday morning was one of the talking points of the day. Unfortunately for Higgo, that penalty cost him a weekend and a paycheck that may not be worth the publicity he gets.
