Bryson DeChambeau drops Tiger Woods bombshell after terrible Open start

US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau chalked up a poor start to the 152nd Open Championship to equipment issues as he revealed Tiger Woods has started talking to him again. 

The American, who claimed his second major championship at last month's US Open, was touted as one of the favourites to lift the claret jug at Royal Troon this week. 

But the LIV Golf man was among many who was caught out by the conditions on Thursday at the Ayrshire Links. 

DeChambeau returned a scorecard for five-over 76, which left him towards the bottom of the leaderboard alongside a disconsolate Rory McIlroy. 

The 30-year-old laboured on the front nine, dropping six shots. 

That front nine included DeChambeau taking as many as five strokes to get to the green on the 623-yard par-five sixth hole. 

But he persevered. 

The highlight of his day came at the 16th where he rolled in an eagle putt from off the green. 

In the immediate aftermath of round one, DeChambeau claimed issues with his equipment were at the root of his problems. 

And he also said he didn't get any practice in the rain. 

"I never grew up playing it, and not to say that that's the reason," he said. "I finished eighth at St Andrews."

Asked if he can make the cut tomorrow, DeChambeau said: "Yeah, I'm going to figure it out."

He added: "It's something equipment related. 

"The golf ball is -- look, I'm not at 190 ball speed, so particularly when I'm hitting driver or 3-wood, those clubs are built for around that speed, that 190 ball speed, and my 3-wood around 180, so colder, firmer conditions the golf ball is not compressing as much. 

"So it's probably something along those lines.

"But [I] felt like I was swinging it somewhat okay, just the ball wasn't coming off in that window that I normally see, so it was a weird day."

"It is the first communication"

DeChambeau previously revealed when he joined LIV Golf the aforementioned Woods began ignoring his text messages. 

But it appears those days are over. 

DeChambeau was asked by SI's Bob Harig if it was true that Woods congratulated him on his recent US Open triumph. 

He confirmed Woods did so and it was 'the first communication' he had received since the blackout. 

"He's competitor and I have a lot of respect for him," he said.  

"I'm sure that winning two U.S. Opens definitely helped, I guess, for him coming up and saying congrats. 

"I don't know what his position is, but it was very thoughtful, and I was appreciative of it."

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