Bryson DeChambeau Penalized Two Strokes at 2026 Open

The Ruling and On-Course Incident

The incident occurred after DeChambeau’s tee shot landed in tall, waist-high grass located past the red penalty stake on the fifth hole. DeChambeau elected to play the ball as it lay rather than taking a penalty drop. While navigating the area to locate his ball and prepare for his second shot, he walked through the tall grass behind the ball.

Following his round, R&A officials, including executive director of governance Grant Moir, met with DeChambeau and his caddie, Greg Bodine. The group returned to the fifth hole to review the incident, a process that lasted approximately 15 minutes before they moved to a private office. Moir later confirmed the penalty, stating that under Rule 8.1a, a player is prohibited from moving, bending, or breaking any growing or attached natural object to improve conditions affecting the stroke. Moir clarified that the penalty applied even though the improvement was deemed accidental.

DeChambeau’s Reaction and Tournament Status

The ruling sparked immediate tension. During the discussion on the fifth hole, DeChambeau appeared animated and, according to reports, suggested he might not continue in the tournament. R&A CEO Mark Darbon acknowledged the emotional nature of the discussion, noting that while some aspects of the conversation would remain private, the organization remained focused on making a fair assessment of the rules.

Following the penalty, DeChambeau declined to speak with reporters, instead heading to the driving range where he practiced until 10:30 p.m. local time. Later that night, he addressed the situation on social media, stating: 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.

Impact on the Leaderboard

Before the penalty was applied, DeChambeau had finished his round with a four-under 66, leaving him at seven-under par for the tournament and one shot off the lead. The two-stroke penalty adjusted his score to five-under par. This shift moved him into a tie for fifth place alongside Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim. He enters Saturday’s play three shots behind the tournament leader, Australian Lucas Herbert.

Context of the Rules

The penalty has drawn significant attention to Rule 8.1, which prohibits players from altering conditions that affect their stroke, including the lie of the ball, the area of the intended stance, the area of the intended swing, and the line of play. While players are permitted to take reasonable actions to search for a ball, the R&A maintained that the actions taken by DeChambeau resulted in an improvement of the area for his intended backswing.

Despite the controversy, DeChambeau confirmed his intention to continue competing at Royal Birkdale. He is scheduled to tee off at 15:30 BST on Saturday alongside Sam Burns.