Bryson DeChambeau faced a two-shot penalty during the second round of The Open after officials determined he had inadvertently improved his swing path on the fifth hole by trampling down knee-high rough behind his ball. The R&A, which organizes the championship, acknowledged that DeChambeau’s actions were accidental but stated the rule was still applicable under the event’s regulations.
DeChambeau believed his round of 66 had positioned him one shot off the lead at the halfway stage before the penalty was assessed. The penalty proved consequential, as he finished six shots behind champion Ryan Fox following weekend rounds of 69 and 72. DeChambeau expressed that he felt unfairly treated by the decision and chose not to speak with media throughout the week following the incident.
World number one Scottie Scheffler, who was paired with DeChambeau when the incident occurred, publicly defended his fellow American. Scheffler stated he had never witnessed DeChambeau cheat during their years together, including during amateur competitions and casual contests. While Scheffler acknowledged DeChambeau may have been “a touch careless” around his ball based on camera angles, he maintained the action was not intentional.
R&A chief executive Mark Darbon characterized the two-shot penalty as a “clear-cut decision from a rules perspective.” Rory McIlroy, who acknowledged being “not fond of” DeChambeau, disagreed with this assessment and accused him of holding the Open “hostage.” DeChambeau received mixed reactions from the gallery during his third round on Saturday, with a warm overall reception interrupted by isolated accusations of cheating.