R&A considers disciplinary action after Bryson DeChambeau penalty at Royal Birkdale
Bryson DeChambeau received a two-stroke penalty at the Open Championship for improving his lie, later threatened to involve the U.S. president and has not publicly apologized, prompting calls for a suspension.
Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty by the R&A during the second round of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale after officials determined he had unintentionally improved the lie of his ball in the rough on the fifth hole. Video footage showed the 32-year-old moving around the ball before his shot.
Following the ruling, DeChambeau indicated he might withdraw from the tournament and later confirmed he would continue for the third round, playing two strokes behind his Friday position. Reports said he also considered contacting President Donald Trump in an effort to overturn the penalty, a claim cited by several news outlets.
DeChambeau returned for the third round but did not issue a public statement or apology regarding the incident. His handling of the situation has drawn criticism from some commentators, who compare his response to other players who accepted penalties without protest.
The R&A has not announced any further sanctions, though some observers have suggested a provisional suspension from next year’s Open at St Andrews could be considered.