Bryson DeChambeau confirms participation in The Open despite penalty controversy
Bryson DeChambeau will compete in Saturday’s third round at the Open Championship despite his fury over a controversial two-stroke penalty, the American confirmed shortly after midnight, reports BritPanorama.
The two-time major winner announced his decision via social media following dramatic scenes at Royal Birkdale on Friday evening. With uncertainty surrounding his participation leading up to the weekend, DeChambeau spent time hitting balls on the practice range until 10:30 PM but ultimately confirmed he would continue in the tournament.
The penalty arose from an incident at the driveable par-four fifth hole, where DeChambeau’s tee shot found thick fescue grass. Footage showed him walking through the high grass and stepping on vegetation, leading officials to determine that he had inadvertently improved the area for his backswing.
R&A executive director Grant Moir confirmed DeChambeau was penalised for “inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing,” which transformed a bogey five into a triple-bogey seven on his scorecard, dropping him from seven under to five under par and leaving him tied for fifth place.
DeChambeau’s reaction to the ruling was notably animated, with onlookers capturing him engaged in a heated confrontation with officials. He insisted on returning to the fifth hole with his club to demonstrate how he had played the shot, defending his position to the R&A officials.
The exchange escalated as the reality of the penalty set in. At one point, DeChambeau informed officials he would refuse to participate in Saturday’s round if the decision stood. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon later joined the discussions, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
Despite his frustration, DeChambeau declined to speak with the media, stating only, “I’m going to hit some balls.” The R&A explained that players must not improve conditions affecting their stroke, a point Moir emphasised by clarifying the rules surrounding stance and swing.
As it stands, DeChambeau will tee off at 3:30 PM local time on Saturday, several groups ahead of the final pairing. Lucas Herbert holds the 36-hole lead at eight under, while DeChambeau finds himself three strokes adrift alongside Sam Burns and Kim Si-woo. Such moments remind us how the competitive spirit in golf can ignite both passion and controversy in equal measure, with rules that may seem stringent but are also essential to the game’s integrity.
