Bryson DeChambeau was one shot off the lead after 36 holes at Royal Birkdale. A new set of clubs was working when a rules official knocked on the door.

Officials assessed Bryson DeChambeau a two-stroke penalty during the second round of The Open Championship on Friday, July 17. It was for improving his lie on the fifth hole in violation of Rule 8.1.

According to BroBible's Grayson Weir, rules officials drove DeChambeau back out to the fifth hole after his round to review footage. The penalty stood, but DeChambeau made his decision anyway.

"Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don't agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up onto the weekend. Let's get it," he posted on X.

The penalty dropped him from -7 to -5. During the heated discussion with officials, DeChambeau appeared to say he would boycott the remainder of the tournament if the penalty stood.

The incident occurred in the fescue on his second shot at the fifth hole. Footage showed DeChambeau stepping on grass around the ball, which officials determined cleared space behind the ball and improved his backswing position.

DeChambeau argued that players routinely walk through the line of sight in rough and that the grass height didn't affect his swing.

Officials disagreed. The two-stroke penalty was confirmed. DeChambeau walked to the range after the ruling and hit balls before posting his decision on X.

Per BroBible, DeChambeau debuted a full set of custom 3D-printed irons at The Open, swapping graphite shafts for True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 steel shafts. He also returned to his Krank Formula Fire Bro driver.

A moonshot on the ninth tee set up a birdie, and a long putt on 18 closed out what he believed was a 66, before the penalty changed his card to a 68.

Social Media reacted quickly, and not all of it was against Bryson DeChambeau

An X user, Timmy Tebrows, posted a clip of DeChambeau saying "I'm just not going to play tomorrow" and offered a measured take.

"Honestly, the penalty seems ridiculous," the post read. "And I've said it before, but for the hate he gets, he still respects the game of golf. Don't see Bryson as a cheater. Two-stroke penalty feels wrong."

R&A chief referee Grant Moir explained the decision in a statement issued Friday. He said the penalty under Rule 8.1 still applied even though Bryson improved his lie by accident.

"What the prohibited action here is that the player mustn't move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object," Moir told reporters, per the PGA Tour. "A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance…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."

The leaderboard at the close of the second round featured 16 players at -4 or under, with Lucas Herbert leading at -8. DeChambeau at -5, post-penalty, remained in contention heading into the weekend.

Do you think DeChambeau deserved the two-stroke penalty? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

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Written by

Sneha Abraham

Edited by

Shubhi Rathore