A 76 Thursday creates a historical task for Bryson DeChambeau
The cliche says the Masters starts when the leaders reach the back nine Sunday, but a bogey on 18 may have sunk DeChambeau's Masters already.
There are 54 holes left in the 2026 Masters, and as we remind ourselves every year, the tournament doesn’t really begin until the leaders reach the back nine on Sunday. But Bryson DeChambeau’s bogey at the 18th on Thursday put the two-time U. S.
Open champion on the wrong side of a historically important line at Augusta National. After failing to get up and down from the short and left of the green, DeChambeau signed for a 4-over 76, leaving him nine shots behind early leaders Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns, who each opened with 67. More: Bryson DeChambeau opening Masters round: Triple leads to ugly 76 He could certainly bounce back on Friday, make the cut and work his way up the leaderboard, but history suggests the margin for error is now razor thin.
The highest opening round by a Masters winner remains a 75, shot by Craig Stadler in 1982. Notably, Stadler went on to win that year in a playoff over Dan Pohl, who also opened with 75. "Just going to give what the golf course gives me," DeChambeau said after he was asked if he planned to be more aggressive Friday to get back into the mix.
"I have to try to hit my irons better. I drove it left numerous occasions. Did a great job on 18.