Bryson DeChambeau has threatened to walk out of the Open after being handed a two-shot penalty for improving his lie. The US star posted an incredible round of 66 to move within one shot of leader Lucas Herbert, having missed the cut at the Masters, the PGA Championship and the US Open.
His score since been downgraded to 68, after officials claimed he improved his lie on the fifth hole, which he went on to bogey. He was stuck amongst long grass on the right side of hole five at Royal Birkdale. He could be seen trampling through the waist high grass before he made his next stroke. He was then driven back to the hole by officials, where he appeared to say “I’m just not going to play tomorrow” in the midst of the row.
An official statement from the R&A confirmed DeChambeau was handed a two-stroke penalty for his action on the fifth hole. Referee Grant Moir said: “Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended backswing on the fifth hole when he was playing his second shot.”
Another R&A spokesperson also said: “So Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his swing, so his intended backswing, on the fifth hole when he was playing his second shot. Basically, I’m going to explain the technicalities of the rule here for you.
“Ruling 1 restricts what the player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke. And this includes the area of the player’s intended swing. So 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.
“Now I will stress that this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson’s case. The area of the intended swing includes the entire area that might reasonably affect the backswing, the downswing or the completion of the swing for the intended stroke. And, importantly, what the prohibited action here is, that the player mustn’t move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object.
“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 conditions affecting the stroke. But when doing so, the player must take the least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation, and is not entitled to a normal stance or swing. I reiterate, this applies even when there’s no intention to improve the area, as was the case with Bryson. That’s all I have to say.”
After his round, DeChambeau was asked by a reporter if he would be playing tomorrow, but the LIV Golf star strode past and ignored the question. He was then seen striking balls at the Royal Birkdale driving range, as spectators and other golf fans waited for a statement to be issued.
Despite his comment, Dame Laura Davies does not believe he will follow through on his threat. She told Sky Sports: “They are questioning his integrity. He said he didn’t do it. Whatever he thinks, I think he will play tomorrow even if he says he will not. Where is he supposed to put his feet?”
The penalty has seen him drop from T2 and one shot behind Herbert, all the way down to T5, where he is now locked on six-under with Sam Burns and South Korean star Kim Si Woo.