The Open: Bryson DeChambeau handed two-shot penalty after controversial ruling in second round at Royal Birkdale
Bryson DeChambeau was penalised for "inadvertently improving his lie" at the par-four fifth, turning a five into a triple-bogey seven; DeChambeau said on social media he was 'disappointed' by the decision
By Ali Stafford at Royal Birkdale
Last Updated: 18/07/26 7:50am
Bryson DeChambeau has criticised the 'disappointing' decision for him to be handed a two-shot penalty for a controversial rules breach during his second round at The Open.
DeChambeau appeared to have moved within a shot of the halfway lead following an opening-round 67 with a birdie-birdie finish to his four-under 66 at Royal Birkdale, only to be called to speak to rules officials after the conclusion of his round.
The two-time major champion was adjudged to have inadvertently improved his lie when stood in thick grass at the par-four fifth, having hit a wayward tee shot, with DeChambeau returning to the area with rules officials to review the incident.
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Extraordinary footage saw DeChambeau passionately plead his innocence in a heated exchange, only to be penalised under rule 8.1 of the rules of golf and see his bogey on that hole become a triple-bogey seven.
"Obviously disappointed with the ruling," DeChambeau said on X. "I don't agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let's get it."
DeChambeau will tee off his third round alongside playing partner Sam Burns at 3.30pm.
In a statement, R&A Referee Grant Moir said: "Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended backswing on the fifth hole when he was playing his second shot.
"Rule 8.1 restricts what a player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke, and this includes the area of the player's intended swing.
"So an improvement means to alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke. I'll stress that this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson's case."
It drops DeChambeau to a two-under 68 and from seven under to five under and three strokes behind Lucas Herbert, who now holds a two-shot lead and was one of two players to equal the lowest round in men's major history with second-round 62s.
It took over 70 minutes from DeChambeau walking off the 18th to the decision being confirmed, with the American then spending time on the range before declining media interviews for the sixth consecutive major round.
Reports suggested DeChambeau was undecided about whether he is going to continue in the championship, although he later appeared to confirm his intention to play by posting on multiple platforms over Friday evening.
"Onto the weekend..." he posted on Instragram, which included superimposed images of him floating above the grass.
Players and pundits divided over rules drama
Paul McGinley, speaking on Golf Channel: "I think it's a breach. The first five seconds when he got to the ball, that's when the breach happened. He walked up, saw his lie, and his first thing to do was to stand behind the ball.
"In standing behind the ball, he bedded down the grass behind it, which in turn was going to improve his back swing. For me, it's a clear breach. Bryson was obviously not agreeing with it, in a very stubborn way. That's stamping down grass behind the ball.
"Your line of play is not just towards your target. It's also your backswing. He's standing right there where his club should be going back."
Dame Laura Davies: "Bryson obviously fought his corner, but on the evidence of what they've seen on the camera and what they saw out there, they've decided it's a two-shot penalty.
"He's three back instead of one back - that's it. You can't go any more than that - that's why the camera is so important with the rules. Hopefully the right decision has been made."
Wayne 'Radar' Riley: "DeChambeau will certainly be wound up tomorrow and I think the people on this property will be rooting for him. We all looked at it and thought it could go one way or the other.
"It's been unfortunate, but it's been very well explained by the R&A."
Drama, confusion and history - a Friday to remember at Birkdale
Sky Sports' Ali Stafford at Royal Birkdale:
"Friday's action should have been remembered as the first time in Open history that two players carded rounds of 62 in the same day, but has been overshadowed by a remarkable end to the second round.
"Lucas Herbert's par-bogey finish saw him miss out on the first 61 ever in a men's major, while Sam Burns three-birdie finish - including a hole-out from the bunker at the last - saw both join the major '62 club' within half hour of each other.
"While Herbert now has a two-shot lead rather than the one he initially appeared, those two record-equalling rounds were quickly usurped by Bryson DeChambeau's two-shot penalty late in the day.
"Opinions were divided and continued to change during 70-odd minutes of chaos from the moment DeChambeau walked off, with brief suggestions that he may not even want to continue in the tournament.
"DeChambeau didn't answer questions so we don't know yet truly how he is feeling, but the way he defended himself to the rules officials was pure cinema. He answered Sir Nick Faldo's critics about strategy, but now he will want to make another statement by responding to this in the right way."
When is The Open live on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports is once again the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, with wall-to-wall action from the final men's major of the year throughout the weekend on Sky Sports Golf.
'Saturday at The Open' will kick off the third-round coverage from 9am on Sky Sports Golf, with early play on Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports App ahead of full coverage on Sky Sports Golf from 11am.
Featured Groups will also be available on Sky Sports+ or the Sky Sports App, with coverage then starting for Sunday's final round from 8am on Sunday on Sky Sports Golf.
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