PGA Championship 2026: 'I'm so confused right now' - Bryson DeChambeau handled odd ruling in most Bryson way imaginable

TL;DR

Bryson DeChambeau struggled at the PGA Championship, shooting a 39 on the front nine. He faced confusion over a ruling regarding relief from a hospitality tent after hitting his tee shot off course.

Key points

Bryson DeChambeau shot a 39 on the front nine at the PGA Championship.
He faced confusion over a ruling regarding relief from a hospitality tent.
DeChambeau questioned the relief procedure with a rules official.

Bryson DeChambeau had an ugly opening nine on Thursday at the PGA Championship, where he went out in 39 on Aronimink's back side. Things didn't get much better after he made the turn, where he was puzzled by an odd rules situation at the par-4 second.

The two-time U.S. Open winner had a bad case of the rights all day, and he didn't fix the issue at No. 2. He blocked his tee shot so far right it ended up on the steps of a hospitality tent, where he would be granted relief.

Just not quite the relief he thought, at least based off this exchange with a rules official that was captured on ESPN. "I'm so confused right now," DeChambeau said. "I thought TIO (temporary immovable obstruction) you get one [club length] and then drop on the next?"

By the sound of it, it seems DeChambeau was correct that he would get a second club length and then be able to take his drop in that relief area.

"Is there relief on this path?" DeChambeau asked. "Oh, it is, that's what I thought."

After taking his drop, DeChambeau managed to hit a beauty to 22 feet and two-putt for par. One of the few highlights of his first round. DeChambeau is currently seven over par with one hole remaining.

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Q&A

What happened to Bryson DeChambeau at the PGA Championship 2026?

Bryson DeChambeau had a rough start, shooting a 39 on the front nine and encountering confusion over a ruling regarding relief from a hospitality tent.

Why was Bryson DeChambeau confused about the ruling at the PGA Championship?

DeChambeau was confused because he believed he was entitled to a second club length for relief from a temporary immovable obstruction, which he later confirmed was correct.

What is a temporary immovable obstruction in golf?

A temporary immovable obstruction is an object that cannot be moved and interferes with a player's stance or swing, allowing for relief under the rules of golf.