Bryson DeChambeau received a two-stroke penalty during the second round of The Open Championship on Friday, July 17, 2026 [1, 4].
The ruling significantly impacts DeChambeau's standing in the tournament, turning a potential bogey into a triple-bogey and complicating his path to the leaderboard.
The incident occurred at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, on the par-four fifth hole [2, 3]. Officials determined that DeChambeau violated Rule 8.1b, which prohibits a player from improving the lie of the ball on the putting green [5].
As a result of the breach, DeChambeau was assessed a penalty of two strokes [1]. This ruling changed his score on the fifth hole from a five to a triple-bogey seven [2]. Before the penalty was applied, DeChambeau had recorded a round score of 66 [3].
The penalty sparked immediate controversy surrounding the player's future in the event. Reports regarding his reaction varied; The Telegraph said DeChambeau threatened to quit the tournament, while Sky Sports said his agent stated the golfer had not yet decided whether to continue playing [2, 4].
Royal Birkdale is known for its challenging conditions, and the strict application of Rule 8.1b highlights the R&A's commitment to maintaining the integrity of the course's natural state. DeChambeau's struggle with the ruling underscores the thin margin for error in major championships, where a single technical violation can erase the advantage of a low round score.
“DeChambeau was assessed a penalty of two strokes”
The application of Rule 8.1b at a major championship emphasizes the R&A's rigorous enforcement of course conditions. Because DeChambeau was playing at a high level with a 66 before the penalty, the two-shot swing creates a psychological and mathematical hurdle that can shift the momentum of a tournament and potentially impact the final leaderboard rankings.
