‘This fires me up’: Bryson DeChambeau to play on after huge Open controversy

Saturday, 18 July 2026

The American was handed a two-shot penalty during the second round of The Open at Royal Birkdale for 'inadvertently improving his lie' on the 321-yard 5th hole.

Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns took their place in history in the British Open on Friday when each equalled the major record with rounds of 8-under 62.

But the big story was again Bryson DeChambeau. The US star was penalised two shots and visibly frustrated.

DeChambeau finished birdie-birdie for a 66 that left him one shot behind Herbert. But after the round officials took him out to the fifth hole.

DeChambeau hit into high grass to the right of the 321-yard hole. He stomped around trying to figure out the shot.

R&A officials deemed he inadvertently affected the path of his swing. They assessed him a two-shot penalty, turning the 66 into a 68.

DeChambeau argued his case. He left without speaking to the media and headed straight to the driving range.

It appeared that DeChambeau said to the rules officials, “I’m not going to play tomorrow.’’

Bryson DeChambeau plays from an awkward lie to the 5th green during the second day of the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

How it played out

DeChambeau was hand-slapping with the gallery when he finished birdie-birdie for a 4-under 66, leaving him one shot behind Herbert going into the weekend. That changed when officials asked him to review his shot from the fifth hole.

DeChambeau asked to be taken to the scene of the infraction, in thick, high grass to the right of the 321-yard hole, and television cameras picked him up arguing with them.

He hit into knee-high grass to the right and was stomping around as he tried to figure out how to navigate a shot 72 yards from the hole. At issue was whether he violated Rule 8 that governs the intended swing.

Bryson DeChambeau reacts after playing a shot on the 17th green during the second round at Royal Birkdale.

DeChambeau was seen waving his arms and pointing in clear frustration. Officials eventually deemed a section of grass behind the ball was tamped down that might have affected his backswing on the shot.

DeChambeau made bogey on the hole, which became a triple bogey. His score went from a 66 to a 68. Instead of one shot behind, he was three shots behind and tied for fifth. Even more drama followed when DeChambeau – who has stopped talking to the media – stormed off to the range.

His agent, Brett Falkoff, was asked if the two-time US Open champion would play on Saturday and replied, “We'll see,' he said. 'Your guess is as good as mine.'

However, DeChambeau later tweeted that while he was “obviously disappointed with the ruling” it had only “fired him up” for the final two rounds.

“Let’s get it”, DeChambeau added.

Stuff and AP

Second Round Leaderboard

Lucas Herbert, Australia 70-62 — 132 -8

Ryan Gerard, United States 67-67 — 134 -6

Jackson Suber, United States 65-69 — 134 -6

Cameron Young, United States 67-67 — 134 -6

Sam Burns, United States 73-62 — 135 -5

Bryson DeChambeau, United States 67-68 — 135 -5

Si Woo Kim, South Korea 68-67 — 135 -5

Bud Cauley, United States 68-68 — 136 -4

Thomas Detry, Belgium 67-69 — 136 -4

Alex Fitzpatrick, England 69-67 — 136 -4

Tommy Fleetwood, England 69-67 — 136 -4

Robert MacIntyre, Scotland 67-69 — 136 -4

Francesco Molinari, Italy 67-69 — 136 -4

Jon Rahm, Spain 69-67 — 136 -4

Scottie Scheffler, United States 68-68 — 136 -4

Matt Wallace, England 69-67 — 136 -4

Ryan Fox, New Zealand 72-68 — 140 Even