Bryson DeChambeau 'fired up' after controversial two-shot penalty at The Open

By SABC Sport
18th July 2026

Bryson DeChambeau says a controversial two-shot penalty at The 154th Open has "fired him up" as he prepares to chase the title over the weekend at Royal Birkdale.

The two-time US Open champion was penalised two strokes after the second round for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing during the fifth hole.

DeChambeau appeared to have secured a place in the final group alongside Lucas Herbert after producing a six-under-par 66 on Friday, finishing strongly with birdies at the 17th and 18th holes to move to seven under for the tournament.

However, after completing his round, he was informed by R&A officials that he had breached a rule when playing the short par-four fifth.

DeChambeau had attempted to drive the green, but his tee shot finished in deep rough to the right of the fairway. Officials determined that his actions had altered the area of his intended swing before he played his second shot.

"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," DeChambeau wrote on social media after the decision.

R&A executive director of governance Grant Moir confirmed the penalty was applied because the rules prohibit a player from improving conditions affecting a stroke, even when the action is accidental.

"Bryson has been penalized two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing, so intended backswing on the fifth hole when he was playing his second shot," Moir said.

"An improvement means to alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke."

The penalty changed DeChambeau's second-round score from 66 to 68, leaving him at five under par and in a tie for fifth place heading into the weekend.

The ruling denied DeChambeau the chance to join Herbert in the final group after the Australian surged to the top of the leaderboard with an eight-under-par 62, narrowly missing out on becoming the first player to shoot 61 in a men's major championship.