The final round of the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale is under way, with American Sam Burns carrying a two-shot lead into the closing 18 holes – but the story of the championship has increasingly been about his chief rival, Bryson DeChambeau, and the accusations swirling around him.
Burns, a five-time PGA Tour winner, has his wife Caroline in the gallery as he seeks his first major title. The couple, who met at church in Shreveport, Louisiana, when they were five years old, married in December 2019 and welcomed their first child, son Bear, in April 2024. They are expecting a second child in July, according to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis.
“Sam Burns leads Open final round at Royal Birkdale, while McIlroy calls DeChambeau 'performative'.”
While Burns focuses on his game, DeChambeau – part of the chasing pack alongside Scottie Scheffler – has become a lightning rod for criticism. Rory McIlroy, speaking ahead of the final round, said he is “not particularly fond” of DeChambeau, describing him as “performative” and someone who “seeks attention”. The comments have added to a narrative that DeChambeau is “holding the Open hostage”, as one report put it.
McIlroy did not elaborate on the specific incident that prompted his remarks, but the tension between the two players has simmered for years. For now, the focus remains on Burns, who needs to hold his nerve against a chasing pack that includes both DeChambeau and world No.1 Scheffler. Can he become the first American since Jordan Spieth in 2017 to lift the Claret Jug? The answer will unfold on the Southport links.