Bryson DeChambeau Assessed Two-Stroke Penalty at The Open
Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty during the second round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, a ruling that significantly altered the tournament standings. The R&A determined that DeChambeau improved his lie while playing his second shot on the par-4 fifth hole, changing his score on that hole from a bogey to a triple bogey. The penalty dropped DeChambeau’s second-round score from a 4-under 66 to 68.
The Ruling and Rule 8-1
According to Grant Moir, the R&A’s executive director of governance, the penalty was applied under Rule 8-1. Moir explained that the rule prohibits a player from moving, bending, or breaking any growing or attached natural object.
“A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance… but when doing so, the player must take the least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation and is not entitled to a normal stance or swing,” Moir stated.
R&A officials specifically cited that DeChambeau had inadvertently improved the area of his intended swing
while navigating tall fescue grass near his ball. Moir confirmed the penalty applied even though the action was deemed accidental.
Incident Details and Post-Round Controversy
DeChambeau’s initial trouble on the fifth hole began when his drive landed in a penalty area. While he believed the ball was playable, he was observed taking practice swings and walking near the ball before hitting his approach. The penalty was not assessed until after DeChambeau completed his round. Following the conclusion of his play, DeChambeau and R&A officials returned to the fifth hole to analyze the scene, an interaction that lasted approximately 15 minutes. During the process, DeChambeau was seen passionately arguing his case. DeChambeau’s manager, Brett Falkoff, stated that R&A officials claimed DeChambeau had not been careful enough with his steps, which they argued altered his swing path. Falkoff also defended the golfer’s integrity, stating, He's not a cheater.
Impact on Tournament Standing
Before the penalty was confirmed, DeChambeau had been positioned to play in Saturday’s final pairing alongside Lucas Herbert. The adjustment resulted in a three-stroke deficit behind the leaders, leaving him tied with Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim. In the aftermath of the ruling, reports surfaced that DeChambeau had expressed frustration, questioning whether he would continue to play in the tournament. However, it was later confirmed that DeChambeau intends to participate in the third round. DeChambeau declined to speak to the media throughout the ordeal, though he was seen conducting a late-night practice session on the driving range following the ruling. Graeme McDowell, commenting on the incident via social media, suggested that while he believed DeChambeau’s actions were unintentional, the penalty was likely justified given the rules regarding trampling grass during a pre-shot routine.
