Bryson DeChambeau rallies for 65 in second round of The Open - ESPN

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Late Thursday evening, as he walked behind the 18th hole grandstands and away from Royal Portrush, a frustrated Bryson DeChambeau just wanted to leave the Open Championship and go home.

With what appeared to be a missed cut looming Friday in what historically has been DeChambeau's worst major, the two-time U.S. Open champion decided to resist the urge to pack things up and look ahead to the majors of 2026.

«I woke up this morning, and I said, 'You know what? I can't give up,'» DeChambeau said. «I was proud of the way I fought back.»

After a first-round 78 in which he failed to make a single birdie, DeChambeau improved his score by 13 strokes and shot one of the low rounds of the day — a 6-under 65 — to jump back up to 1 over and be around the projected cut line.

«I really persevered through some emotionally difficult moments,» DeChambeau said. «And to hold myself together and not get pissed and slam clubs and throw things and all that like I wanted to, like I was very proud of myself.»

After missing 28% of the fairways and hitting 39% of greens in regulation in the first round, DeChambeau hit over 50% of his fairways Friday and hit all but one of Portrush's greens in regulation.

DeChambeau insisted, however, that the scoring gulf between the two days was not representative of his actual play.

«I've played the same as I did yesterday. That's links golf for you,» DeChambeau said. «I executed pretty much the same shots as I did yesterday. I didn't feel like I played any different. Today they just kind of went more my way. My wedges were just a fraction better, and that was really it. Made a couple more putts. There wasn't much different. That's why links golf is the way links golf is.»

DeChambea