Bryson DeChambeau’s surge up the 2026 Open Championship leaderboard encountered a significant setback on Friday, July 17, when tournament officials assessed him a two-stroke penalty for a rules violation during the second round. The R&A confirmed the penalty, which was linked to an incident at the fifth hole where DeChambeau’s drive landed in thick fescue grass. Replays of the round showed the golfer walking over and stepping on the long grass in a manner that officials determined could have potentially improved the conditions for his backswing.
The situation escalated after the round when R&A rules official Charlie Maran and DeChambeau returned to the fifth hole in a golf cart to discuss the golfer's actions. Maran explained during the Open Championship broadcast that the issue was something that came up as the day unfolded. A visibly agitated DeChambeau was seen pleading his case from the fescue, which had been the site of his only bogey of the round. According to his manager, Brett Falkoff, DeChambeau was not informed of the potential rules violation until after his round was finished and he had specifically requested to return to the fifth hole to review the incident.
Falkoff noted that officials felt DeChambeau was not careful enough around a sensitive area and consequently improved his swing path. R&A referee Grant Moir later issued a statement to reporters clarifying the ruling. Moir explained that the penalty was applied even though DeChambeau did not intend to improve his lie or backswing. The rule in question restricts what a player may do to improve protected conditions affecting a stroke, including the area of the player's intended swing. Moir stressed that this rule applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in this case.
Following the ruling, DeChambeau officially signed for a triple bogey 7 on the fifth hole. He currently sits at 5-under for the tournament, placing him three strokes back of the lead. While there was initial speculation that the golfer might withdraw from the competition, DeChambeau took to social media to confirm he will continue playing in Saturday's third round. He expressed his disappointment with the decision, stating that while he does not agree with the ruling, he accepts that it is what it is. He added that the situation has only served to fire him up for the remainder of the weekend, concluding his post with, "Let’s get it."
"This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it," he posted,
"Obviously disappointed with the ruling," he posted. "I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it."
