Rory McIlroy says Bryson DeChambeau’s Open Championship antics were ‘not a good luck’ as he criticised the American. The two-time Masters champion criticised DeChambeau as he felt the 32-year-old’s reaction to Friday’s two-shot penalty was ‘performative’.
DeChambeau finished seven under after Friday’s second round which left him one shot behind overnight leader Lucas Herbert. However, the R&A found that he had improved his lie on the fifth hole. The LIV Golf breakaway star was spotted in heated discussions with officials in Birkdale on Merseyside after the round had finished, sparking fears over whether he would turn up for the penultimate round on Saturday. It was later found that he “inadvertently improved his swing” and docked two points taking him down the leaderboard to five under.
McIlroy revealed that he was watching the incident unfold from the players’ lounge and that the initial action raised suspicions among the Northern Irishman and his fellow players. He said: “I was watching it live, I was up in the players’ lounge with a few of the other players.
“As soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other and were like, ‘that didn’t seem right’. When I heard that he’d been pulled in by the rules officials, I think it was obvious for why.
“I think there’s no doubt he improved the line of his backswing, whether it was careless or if it was intentional, it doesn’t matter, hopefully was careless. I think the two-shot penalty was justified.”
Players who avoided the cut and in the field for Saturday’s third round were forced to wait for their tee times. The drama was drawn out with all eyes on the hut, where discussions were taking place before DeChambeau walked out to the driving range a short while later after the penalty was confirmed.
McIlroy added: “It was a late night for everyone. I won’t pretend to up here and defend Bryson, I’m not particularly fond of him, a lot of it is performative, attention. To hold the tournament hostage like that, have players, volunteers and everyone within to the part, it wasn’t a great look. I’m not in his mind but it didn’t look good.”
DeChambeau restarted the day five under but couldn’t find a way up the leaderboard after the front nine, wrestling back with a birdie on the sixth after bogeying the second hole.
McIlroy finished the third round way down the leaderboard, shooting one under for the day and two under for the tournament.
Australia’s Ryan Fox joined Sam Burns and fellow countryman Herbert to hit a record-equalling 62. Fox returned to the clubhouse as the leader but faced Si Woo Kim, Burns and Herbert charging down the target, while hometown hero Tommy Fleetwood had a brilliant start to his trip around the course with two birdies in his front nine.