Bryson DeChambeau might be winning on YouTube, but he's struggling to make his mark in major championships this season.
The LIV Golf star, who has been outspoken about his value to the PGA Tour, failed to back up those claims at the PGA Championship. After shooting a 1-over 71 in the second round at Aronimink Golf Club, DeChambeau finished with a total of 7-over 147—three shots above the cut line.
It's been a rough stretch for the 2020 U.S. Open champion. This marks his third missed cut in his last four major starts, and his second of the year after a disappointing 6-over 150 at the Masters. To make matters worse, his 7-over performance is his worst relative to par in nine PGA Championship appearances.
The windy conditions and tricky pin placements at Aronimink made scoring difficult for everyone, with the cut line settling at 4-over. But for a player who once finished runner-up at the PGA Championship and won a U.S. Open, the recent results are a stark contrast to his prime form.
DeChambeau hasn't spoken to reporters after either round this week, but his comments at a recent LIV event in Virginia offered some insight into his mindset. He suggested he's "prepared to grow his YouTube channel" if LIV Golf folds and penalties for returning to the PGA Tour are too severe, adding that the potential sanctions would be "quite unfortunate… considering what I could do for them."
Meanwhile, other big names also packed their bags early. Tommy Fleetwood, the world No. 6, was the highest-ranked player to miss the cut at 5-over. Joining him on the sidelines were Akshay Bhatia (5-over), Viktor Hovland and Keegan Bradley (6-over), Adam Scott (8-over), and Max Homa (12-over). Garrick Higgo came agonizingly close after a two-shot penalty for being late to his tee time left him one shot short of the weekend.
For DeChambeau, the road back to major contention seems longer than ever—but with his talent and determination, golf fans know better than to count him out completely.
