Golfer Bryson DeChambeau has been penalised two shots for a rules infringement during The Open, a decision that has seen him slide down the leaderboard. The American is now five under following the sanction, which came after a lengthy discussion with rules officials at Royal Birkdale.
DeChambeau was seen in the recorders area, where scores are officially updated, alongside R&A chief executive Mark Darbon. They remained in discussion for approximately 15 minutes, drawing considerable attention from gathered media.
The Rules Infringement Explained
DP World Tour rules referee Graeme Storm offered a detailed explanation of the infringement. He stated that DeChambeau “improved the line of play for his club to be able to hit the golf ball,” which was the subject of the investigation.
Storm clarified that the player’s intention is not a factor in such rulings. He explained: “Whether that’s intentional doesn’t really matter. If you improve your line of play you’re improving your lie so basically you get the general penalty of two shots.”
Video evidence supported the officials’ conclusion. “From what video evidence I’ve seen it looked like he’s improved his line of play by stepping back on the long grass behind his line of play because he’s looked down at it,” Storm noted. He concluded that DeChambeau “should get the general penalty which is two shots.”
DeChambeau’s Reaction and Speculation
Following his time with officials, Bryson DeChambeau emerged from a cabin and strode towards the assembled media. He engaged reporters by asking: “Are you guys having a great night?”
However, DeChambeau refused to confirm whether he would be playing in tomorrow’s round. He simply stated: “I’m off to hit some balls,” before making his way to the driving range.
Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport golf reporter at Royal Birkdale, observed DeChambeau’s departure. He noted the golfer was “calmly tossing a ball as he walked past dozens of reporters” and headed “straight to the driving range.” Jurejko added: “I wouldn’t want to be a range ball tonight.”
Adding to the unfolding drama, a report emerged suggesting Bryson DeChambeau had stated he would not play the remainder of the Championship if he were given a two-shot penalty.
Pundits Question the Decision
The penalty sparked debate among golf commentators. English professional golfer Laura Davies, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed reservations about the ruling. “I don’t think there’s enough evidence to penalise the guy,” Davies commented.
Australian professional golfer Wayne Riley, also appearing on Sky Sports, echoed similar concerns regarding the evidence. He stated: “The thing for me and I am not going to defend anyone here. I can’t see how Bryson is going to get penalised without a camera directly behind him. There’s his defence.”
Continued Discussions and Future Coverage
The situation at Royal Birkdale was described as “pure drama” by Jonathan Jurejko, BBC Sport golf reporter. He highlighted that “tens of journalists are waiting for DeChambeau to emerge from the recorders’ office where he is talking to officials.”
After further discussions with rules officials, Bryson DeChambeau was later seen being driven away from the fifth hole on a buggy. The specific timeframe for a final decision to be communicated was not confirmed.
Highlights of the second round of The Open are currently available on BBC Two and the BBC iPlayer. Live text and BBC Radio 5 Live coverage of round three is scheduled for Saturday, with updates on third-round tee times and any further news concerning Bryson DeChambeau to be published on the BBC’s golf page.