DeChambeau’s Penalty at Royal Birkdale
Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two-shot penalty during the second round of The Open at Royal Birkdale, a decision with which he expressed disagreement. The American golfer had initially appeared to be one shot off the lead, reaching seven under par after a four-under 66 in the second round. However, rules officials intervened shortly after he completed his round to discuss a potential rules infringement on the fifth hole.
The penalty was confirmed after discussions with Open officials, pushing DeChambeau back to five under par and placing him three shots behind leader Lucas Herbert. The infraction related to DeChambeau allegedly trampling on long grass near his ball on the fifth hole, which was deemed to have inadvertently improved his lie.
Grant Moir, the R&A‘s executive director of governance, stated that DeChambeau was penalised for “inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing, his backswing, when he was playing his second shot.” Moir emphasised that this rule applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in DeChambeau’s case, and that a player must not move, bend, or break any natural object.
The two-time US Open champion shared his disappointment on social media, writing, “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.” Despite his frustration, DeChambeau later headed to the driving range to hit balls, even posing for a selfie with fans.
Incident Details and Aftermath
The incident unfolded after DeChambeau hit a wayward drive into deep rough on the fifth hole. Videos reportedly showed the 32-year-old seemingly trampling down knee-high rough behind his ball. Officials concluded that DeChambeau had not “played the course as it is found,” thereby breaking Rule 8.1, which concerns actions that “improve conditions affecting the stroke,” including the area of a player’s intended swing.
Following his round, DeChambeau was driven back to the fifth hole by rules officials for an animated discussion about the alleged infringement. He then returned to the recorders’ office, where he spent more than 20 minutes discussing the issue with officials, including R&A chief executive Mark Darbon.
Initially, DeChambeau made bogey on the fifth hole, but the two-shot penalty amended his score to a seven for that hole. This adjustment changed his round from a 66 to a 68, causing him to drop from outright second place to a share of fifth on the official leaderboard. The drama surrounding the penalty created a significant stir among golf reporters and fans alike.
Impact on the Tournament and Player Reaction
The penalty dramatically altered the leaderboard, moving DeChambeau from a strong contention position to a tie for fifth place. Before the penalty, he had been in excellent form, navigating the challenging afternoon winds at Royal Birkdale to put himself in contention for the tournament, despite prior skepticism from figures like Nick Faldo regarding his strategy on links courses.
Graeme Storm, a DP World Tour rules official, explained that improving the line of play for a club to hit the golf ball, whether intentional or not, constitutes improving the lie and incurs a general penalty of two shots. This clarification underscores the strict interpretation of the rules applied in DeChambeau’s case.
DeChambeau’s refusal to speak to the media immediately after the ruling, instead heading to the practice range, highlighted the intensity of the situation. His subsequent social media post, however, indicated a determination to move past the incident and focus on the remainder of the tournament. The official leaderboard was updated to reflect the penalty, showing DeChambeau at five-under-par.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”