Once the toast of the golf world, Bryson DeChambeau now finds himself in a precarious position at the PGA Championship. Not long ago, everything was clicking for the powerhouse player, but Friday at Aronimink Golf Club, the wheels came off in spectacular fashion.

Arriving at the short-game practice area—a high-traffic spot adjacent to the Fan Zone, where Philadelphia fans hover with phones and beers—DeChambeau appeared locked in. He hopped into the bunker with minimal fanfare, a rare moment of quiet focus for a player who typically feeds on the spotlight. After spreading his feet wide and firing a dozen crisp shots toward various pins, he marched toward the first tee, ready to salvage his tournament.

Instead, he unraveled.

Coming off his worst round ever at the PGA Championship and staring down a second consecutive missed major cut, DeChambeau needed a strong showing. But through eight holes Friday, he lost further ground, tumbling to 10-over par and rubbing shoulders with aging past champions and club pros. A late rally with three birdies brought him to 7-over, but it wasn't enough to reach the 4-over cut line.

The numbers tell a brutal story. DeChambeau remains a prodigious driver of the golf ball, and his putting is serviceable. But his short game—once a reliable weapon—has betrayed him. Through two rounds, he ranked 153rd out of 156 players in strokes gained around the green (-1.965) and 119th in strokes gained tee-to-green (-1.276). In plain terms, he's losing nearly two strokes to the field once the pin comes into view.

For a player who once seemed destined to dominate the sport, this is a troubling sign. The game's biggest hitters need more than raw power to contend at major championships—and right now, DeChambeau is learning that lesson the hard way.