Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty during the second round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, a decision that significantly altered his position on the leaderboard. The penalty, issued under Rule 8.1, changed his score for the second round from a 4-under 66 to a 2-under 68. This adjustment moved him from outright second place to a tie for fifth, now trailing leader Lucas Herbert by three strokes.
The ruling stemmed from an incident on the fifth hole, where officials determined that DeChambeau inadvertently improved his lie. According to R&A rules chief Grant Moir, the penalty was applied because DeChambeau’s actions improved the area of his intended backswing. Moir clarified that the rule applies even if the action was accidental, as it was deemed in DeChambeau’s case, stating that anything providing a potential advantage warrants a penalty.
The situation unfolded after DeChambeau completed his round with a birdie on the 18th hole. Rules officials approached him regarding a potential violation, leading to a lengthy discussion and a return to the fifth hole to analyze the scene. The interaction, which lasted approximately 10 to 15 minutes, saw DeChambeau passionately pleading his case, though ultimately to no avail.
Details of the Ruling
The specific violation occurred when DeChambeau hit his tee shot into thick grass along the tree line on the par-4 fifth hole. To access his ball, he stepped on the long grass. Officials later concluded that by doing so, he improved his lie by compressing the grass, a detail that was not brought to their attention until later in the round. This action is prohibited under Rule 8-1, which prevents players from moving, bending, or breaking any growing or attached natural object.
Moir emphasized that while a player is permitted to take reasonable actions to establish a stance, they must use the least intrusive method. The penalty converted DeChambeau’s original bogey on the fifth hole into a triple-bogey 7. This change had a considerable impact, dropping his overall tournament score from 7-under to 5-under.
Following the official announcement of the penalty, DeChambeau was seen heading directly to the driving range, reportedly stating his intention to hit golf balls. The incident has raised questions about his participation in Saturday’s Round 3, with reports indicating he is considering not playing. His decision is expected to be made on Saturday morning.
Tournament Implications and DeChambeau’s Recent Form
Before the penalty, DeChambeau was positioned to play in the final pairing on Saturday alongside Lucas Herbert. The two-stroke adjustment now places him in a tie for fifth with Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim, three shots behind the leader. This development significantly alters the competitive landscape of the tournament.
DeChambeau’s performance at The Open Championship had marked a potential turnaround in his major season. He had missed the cut at the Masters in April and failed to make the weekend at both the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open in subsequent months, not posting a single round under par in those events. His 3-under 67 on Thursday at the British Open was his first sub-par round at a major in 2026, and his initial Friday performance seemed to indicate a strong return to form.
The penalty decision has added a layer of uncertainty to DeChambeau’s tournament. Despite the setback, he remains in a position to contend for his first Claret Jug, provided he chooses to continue playing in the championship.
Source: sports.yahoo.com