American golfer Bryson DeChambeau received a two-stroke penalty for improving his line of swing during the second round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on Friday.
The penalty dropped him from second to fifth place on the leaderboard.
Tournament officials reviewed an incident on the fifth hole where DeChambeau reportedly trampled down grass behind his ball in the thick rough before taking his shot.
His score on that hole was adjusted from a five to a seven, changing his aggregate from seven under par to five under par.
DeChambeau expressed his disappointment via social media early Saturday morning.
“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,” he wrote.
The 32-year-old later practiced late into the evening on the Birkdale driving range, briefly interacting with media.
“I’m going to practise, guys,” he said.
R&A Clarifies the Ruling
Grant Moir, executive director of the R&A, issued a statement explaining the infraction and emphasizing that intent does not matter.
“Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing on the 5th hole when he was playing his second shot,” Moir said.
He detailed that Rule 8.1 restricts players from improving protected conditions affecting the stroke, including the area of the intended swing.
“An improvement means to alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke so that the player gains a potential advantage,” Moir said.
“This applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson’s case.”
The official explained that the area of intended swing includes the entire area that might reasonably affect any part of the swing.
“The prohibited action here is that the player mustn’t move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object,” Moir added.
Players are allowed to take reasonable actions to get to the ball, but must take the least intrusive course of action.
“The player is not entitled to a normal stance or swing,” Moir said.
He reiterated that the absence of deliberate intent does not waive enforcement of the penalty.
In a separate incident, Jon Rahm received an official warning after throwing a club on the 15th tee, risking a future two-stroke penalty for a similar action.
“I shouldn’t have moments like the one on 15, I get it,” Rahm said.
Lucas Herbert maintained the 36-hole lead at eight under par after missing a five-foot putt on the final green that would have set a major record score of 61.
Jackson Suber, Ryan Gerard, and Cameron Young are tied for second at six under par heading into the third round.
