Bryson DeChambeau was issued a two-shot penalty following his second round at The Open at Royal Birkdale, a decision he has publicly disagreed with. The penalty, confirmed after a discussion with rules officials, related to an alleged rules infringement on the fifth hole.
Initially, DeChambeau appeared to be one shot off the lead, having completed his second round with a four-under 66, placing him at seven under par. However, officials intervened as he left the course to address an incident where he was accused of trampling on long grass near his ball.
Following a lengthy discussion, the penalty was confirmed for “inadvertently improving his lie.” This adjustment moved DeChambeau to five under par, placing him three shots behind the leader, Lucas Herbert.
The two-time US champion expressed his disappointment on social media, stating, “Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it.”
Before this, DeChambeau had not answered questions from the media after emerging from the recorders’ office, where he spent over 20 minutes discussing the matter with officials, including R&A chief executive Mark Darbon. He only commented, “Are you guys having a great night? I’m having a great night,” before heading to the driving range.
His agent, Brett Falkoff, indicated that DeChambeau would assess his condition on Saturday before deciding whether to play.
Details of the Penalty Incident
The incident occurred on the fifth hole during DeChambeau’s second round. His drive veered into deep rough, and videos reportedly showed the American seemingly treading down knee-high rough behind his ball.
The R&A determined that DeChambeau had not “played the course as it is found,” violating Rule 8.1, which pertains to actions that “improve conditions affecting the stroke.” This rule covers the area of a player’s intended swing, which DeChambeau was found to have interfered with.
Grant Moir, the R&A’s executive director of governance, clarified that DeChambeau was penalised for “inadvertently improving the area of intended backswing on fifth hole.” Moir emphasised that this rule applies even if the action is accidental.
Graeme Storm, a DP World Tour rules official, commented that DeChambeau had improved his line of play for hitting the golf ball. He added that the intention behind the action is irrelevant; improving the line of play constitutes improving the lie, leading to the general penalty of two shots.
The penalty altered DeChambeau’s score on the par-4 fifth hole from a bogey to a triple bogey, changing his round score to a 68. This adjustment placed him at five-under for the tournament, tied for fifth with Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim.
Before the penalty, DeChambeau had made birdies on the ninth, 11th, 17th, and 18th holes, propelling him up the leaderboard. The penalty significantly changed the tournament landscape, as he was originally scheduled to play in the final pairing on Saturday alongside Lucas Herbert.
Post-Round Drama and Reaction
The evening unfolded dramatically. After DeChambeau birdied the 18th to reach seven under, he was quickly taken by rules officials to the fifth hole to discuss the potential infringement. An animated discussion ensued, with DeChambeau appearing visibly frustrated.
He returned to the media centre area without answering questions about playing in round three on Saturday, only offering a smile. The confirmation of the two-shot penalty came after he emerged from the cabin where discussions took place.
DeChambeau then proceeded to the driving range, where he continued to hit balls until almost 22:30 BST, posing for a selfie with fans before consulting his team. The incident created significant drama, with experienced golf reporters noting the unusual nature of such a post-round penalty at an Open Championship.
On the course, DeChambeau has been known for his unconventional approach, including using single-length clubs and switching to LIV Golf. Despite earlier scepticism from figures like three-time Open champion Nick Faldo regarding his strategy, DeChambeau performed well in the attritional conditions at Royal Birkdale.
Faldo had previously stated that DeChambeau had “zero clue of strategy,” suggesting he relied on power over tactical play. However, DeChambeau’s golf on Friday, particularly his short game and links-style play, impressed former European Tour winner Andrew Murray, who followed him for a radio broadcast.
DeChambeau had faced a series of missed cuts at previous major tournaments, including the Masters, US PGA Championship, and US Open, making his performance at Birkdale particularly significant. Following his opening round of 67, he had emphasised his “strategy” in an interview with Open organisers.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As Latest News UK's Sports Reporter, Hannah Whitfield reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name covering the county circuit and Team GB at two Commonwealth Games. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Loughborough University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Hannah lives in Bristol, where she plays club tennis and coaches a junior side. “Sport is at its best when you let the athletes tell the story.”