DeChambeau disputes two-shot penalty at Royal Birkdale during Open second round
DeChambeau’s Penalty and Reaction
Bryson DeChambeau received a two-shot penalty during the second round of The Open at Royal Birkdale, a decision he publicly disagreed with. The penalty was assessed for an alleged rules infringement on the fifth hole, where he was accused of trampling on tall grass near his ball. This ruling altered his score from four-under 66 to 68, moving him from one shot off the lead to three shots behind leader Lucas Herbert.
After completing his round, DeChambeau was engaged in a lengthy discussion with rules officials, including R&A chief executive Mark Darbon. The interaction, which lasted over 20 minutes, concluded with the confirmation of the two-shot penalty for “inadvertently improving his lie.”
Following the decision, DeChambeau expressed his disappointment on X, 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.” Earlier, he had declined to answer questions from the media, only offering, “Are you guys having a great night? I’m having a great night,” before heading to the driving range.
Details of the Infringement and Rules Explanation
The incident occurred on the fifth hole after DeChambeau hit a wayward drive into deep rough. Videos reportedly showed the 32-year-old American appearing to step on knee-high rough behind his ball. Officials determined that he 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 includes the area of a player’s intended swing.
Grant Moir, the R&A’s executive director of governance, clarified the ruling, stating, “Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of intended backswing on fifth hole.” Moir emphasised that the rule applies even if the action is accidental, as it was deemed in DeChambeau’s case. He explained that players must not move, bend, or break any growing or attached natural object, and while they can take reasonable actions to get to the ball, they must use the least intrusive method.
Graeme Storm, a DP World Tour rules official, supported the decision, noting that DeChambeau had improved the line of play for his club. Storm highlighted that the intention behind the action is not a factor in the ruling, only whether the lie was improved. The penalty changed DeChambeau’s bogey on the fifth hole to a triple-bogey.
Impact and Broader Context
The penalty significantly impacted DeChambeau’s position in the tournament. He was initially set to play alongside Lucas Herbert in Saturday’s final pairing. However, the two-shot deduction placed him five-under for the tournament, tying him for fifth place and three strokes behind the leader. This dramatic turn of events unfolded after DeChambeau had delivered a strong performance on the course, making birdies on the ninth, 11th, 17th, and 18th holes to climb the leaderboard.
The incident generated considerable discussion among golf commentators. Brandel Chamblee described DeChambeau’s actions as “childish” and “immature,” asserting that the rules officials made the correct decision based on clear evidence. Chamblee argued that DeChambeau had “danced all over the path behind the golf ball” and “stamped aggressively,” creating multiple clear infractions. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley also stated that DeChambeau was clearly in the wrong, pointing to his actions immediately after reaching the ball.
Despite the controversy, DeChambeau confirmed his intention to continue playing in the tournament, stating he was “onto the weekend.” This decision followed earlier reports that he was undecided about whether to withdraw from the competition. The dramatic evening concluded with DeChambeau hitting balls on the driving range until almost 22:30 BST.
Earlier in the week, three-time Open champion Nick Faldo had expressed doubts about DeChambeau’s chances at Royal Birkdale, citing his perceived lack of strategic play. DeChambeau had previously faced criticism for his approach to courses, including at this year’s Masters, where he missed the cut. However, his performance on Friday, before the penalty, had impressed observers like former European Tour winner Andrew Murray, who noted his patience and “linksy golf.”
The penalty decision and DeChambeau’s reaction added an unexpected layer of drama to the second round of The Open on 2026-07-17.
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Source: bbc.com
