DeChambeau's Masters Meltdown: Triple Bogey at Hole 11

Former champion's opening round 76 marred by disastrous hole, raising questions about his recent form

Apr. 12, 2026 at 4:13am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting Bryson DeChambeau's golf swing and the 11th hole at Augusta National, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the unpredictable challenges of the Masters tournament.A cubist interpretation of Bryson DeChambeau's disastrous triple bogey on the 11th hole at the 2026 Masters, capturing the tournament's unforgiving nature.Augusta Today

Bryson DeChambeau, a former Masters champion, struggled mightily in the opening round of the 2026 tournament, carding a 76 that included a devastating triple bogey on the 11th hole. DeChambeau's recent hot streak on the LIV Golf tour seemed to vanish as he battled the unforgiving challenges of Augusta National, with his approach shots and irons faltering throughout the day.

Why it matters

DeChambeau's struggles at the Masters highlight the unpredictable nature of the tournament, where even the most dominant players can falter in the face of the course's unique demands. This setback raises questions about whether a player's recent form can be relied upon when competing at the highest level of golf.

The details

On the par-4 11th hole, DeChambeau found himself in a greenside bunker, a position that proved to be his undoing. The soft bunker conditions did not cooperate, and he was unable to get up and down, resulting in a triple bogey. This was not the first time DeChambeau had struggled on the 11th hole, having recorded a double bogey there the previous year.

  • DeChambeau opened the 2026 Masters with a round of 76 on Thursday, April 10.
  • In the 2025 Masters, DeChambeau recorded a double bogey on the 11th hole.

The players

Bryson DeChambeau

A former Masters champion who has been on a recent hot streak on the LIV Golf tour, but struggled mightily in the opening round of the 2026 tournament.

Rory McIlroy

A fellow top player who was in the final group with DeChambeau the previous year at the Masters.

Scottie Scheffler

A top contender for the 2026 Masters title, according to predictions.

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What they’re saying

“The soft bunker, as I later admitted, was not as forgiving as I had anticipated.”

— Bryson DeChambeau

What’s next

DeChambeau will look to bounce back in the remaining rounds of the 2026 Masters, as he faces an uphill climb to contend for the title after his disastrous opening round.

The takeaway

DeChambeau's struggles at the Masters serve as a reminder that even the most dominant players can falter in the face of the tournament's unique challenges, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the event and the importance of resilience and adaptability in the game of golf.