Bryson DeChambeau receives two-stroke penalty at British Open, drops to tie for fifth

Bryson DeChambeau thought he had finished the second day of the British Open in second place, one stroke behind the leader. After a lengthy discussion with officials and his caddie, he was given a two-stroke penalty that dropped him to a tie for fifth, three strokes back.

Grant Moir, executive director of governance for The R&A, said DeChambeau was penalized “for inadvertently improving the area of his … intended backswing on the fifth hole when he was playing his second shot.” Moir added that the rule applies even when the action is accidental.

DeChambeau’s tee shot on the fifth hole landed 257 yards to the right in tall fescue. He stepped up to the ball, hit it out of the area and ultimately made a bogey, which was later changed to a triple-bogey, leaving him at two-under 68 for the day.

“The player mustn’t move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object,” Moir said. “A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance if in some situations that improves the condition affecting the stroke, but when doing so the player must take the least intrusive course of action.”

DeChambeau indicated he might skip the third round but did not confirm his plans. His agent, Brett Falkoff, said DeChambeau was told he was “not careful enough walking around a sensitive area” and felt the penalty was unfair. Falkoff declined to predict whether DeChambeau would play on Saturday.

After the round, DeChambeau spent time on the driving range, practicing into the evening. Lucas Herbert leads the tournament after two rounds at eight-under, two strokes ahead of Jackson Suber, Cameron Young and Ryan Gerard.