Bryson DeChambeau’s two-stroke penalty has become the main talking point of the 154th Open. While many thought he was justifiably assessed the penalty, some pointed out that Wyndham Clark had evaded a similar situation last month.

DeChambeau was in the wrong for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing at the heavy rough of the par-4 fifth hole. Clark did something similar, but analysts felt the LIV man’s violation was more prominent. 

Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee explained the difference between the two incidents.

"If there is any way out, they will give the player the benefit of the doubt. We saw something, if you remember, at the U.S. Open with Wyndham Clark on the 9th hole," said Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee. "There is no way the USGA did not know about it, did not see it and did not talk about it. But it was nowhere near as definitive as the evidence against Bryson on the 5th hole. It was a non-issue."

While marching towards his second U.S. Open title, Clark was spotted stepping right behind his ball in the thick rough, just like DeChambeau. 

The LIV man was accused of improving his lie, and fans thought Clark had done the same. However, Chamblee pointed out that the US Open winner did nothing out of the ordinary.

"It had some run on social media, but it did not get addressed by the USGA. You see it all the time, but this was such a clear violation," said Chamblee on Golf Channel.

Former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and six-time major winner Nick Faldo backed the R&A's decision. However, fans remain convinced that DeChambeau and Clark were on the same page with pressing the grass.

DeChambeau had his say on the penalty.

Bryson DeChambeau responds to the Ruling

After the second round, DeChambeau had a long discussion with the R&A officials, pleading his case. However, that was to no avail.

“Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is,” he wrote on X. “This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it.” 

It has been a solid performance by the two-time major champion in the opening two rounds. The two-stroke penalty was a huge blow.

DeChambeau’s second-round 66 turned into a 68, and from being one stroke off the leader, Lucas Herbert, the gap widened to three.

While Clark escaped a penalty and secured the US Open without any disruption, it remains to be seen how DeChambeau reacts to the setback.

Do you think DeChambeau's and Clark’s actions were the same? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Kalp Thaker