The 2026 PGA Championship is already delivering the kind of chaos that makes major golf so unpredictable. Bryson DeChambeau, fresh off back-to-back runner-up finishes, found himself in a head-scratching situation during the first round at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.
DeChambeau's day started rough, with four bogeys putting him at four-over par early. But the real drama unfolded on hole number two—his 11th of the day—when his tee shot went wayward and landed on a set of stairs. The bizarre lie forced a rules official to step in and explain what relief options were available. DeChambeau, however, was not on the same page.
“I’m so confused right now,” he said, caught on a hot mic as he tried to process the ruling.
The confusion centered on whether the mulch area near the stairs counted as a cart path, which would allow him to take relief. One fan on X broke it down: the official initially said it wasn't a cart path, then told DeChambeau he could take relief from the mulch area anyway. That contradiction left the golfer—and many watching—scratching their heads.
Social media had a field day with the moment. One user joked, “Literally the worst job in the world is explaining weedy rules to Bryson.” Another compared his frustration to “when people at the airport learn that group 4 boards after group 3.” Even a fan who supports DeChambeau couldn't help but note, “Why does it seem like every single round he plays there’s some weird [expletive] like this lol.”
Despite the confusion, DeChambeau managed to salvage par after a shot that left him just under 23 feet from the hole. But the rest of his round didn't improve much. He finished with a 76, thanks to additional bogeys on holes seven and eight. That score left him nine strokes off the lead, meaning he'll need a near-miraculous second round just to make the cut, let alone contend for the title.
This isn't the first time the PGA Championship has produced oddball moments this week. Garrick Higgo's cold-weather excuse for a two-stroke penalty also raised eyebrows, and Jon Rahm's club smash hitting a volunteer sparked outrage. The 11th hole's reputation as a score-devouring monster has been on full display as well.
For DeChambeau, the staircase incident is just another chapter in a career filled with quirky rules discussions. Whether he can bounce back Friday remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the 2026 PGA Championship is keeping everyone on their toes.
