What Happened with Bryson DeChambeau’s Penalty at The Open?

The Big Picture

At The Open golf tournament in Southport, England, something tricky happened with golfer Bryson DeChambeau. He got a two-stroke penalty (meaning he had to add two extra hits to his score) after his second round. This caused a lot of talk among other golfers and fans.

What Exactly Did Bryson Do?

• Bryson was playing the 5th hole at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.
• His ball landed in very tall grass (called fescue).
• Before hitting his shot, he took some big, high steps near his ball.
• TV replays showed the tall grass behind his ball got pressed down after he stepped.
• The rules say you can’t improve (make better) "the area of your intended swing" — even by accident.

Important Point: The rule applies even if the player didn’t mean to do it! The R&A (the group that runs the tournament) said Bryson’s action was accidental, but it still counted as breaking the rule.

How the Penalty Played Out

Here is what happened step by step:

1. Bryson finished his round thinking he scored 4-under 66.
2. Tournament officials (The R&A) later told him they saw the incident on TV and wanted to talk.
3. Bryson went back to the grass area with officials and showed his swing again, arguing his case.
4. His score on the 5th hole changed from a bogey 5 to a triple-bogey 7.
5. His total score dropped from 7-under to 5-under after the round.
6. The delay made it late for everyone and held up the next day’s tee times.

What Other Golfers Said

Rory McIlroy (Reigning Masters Champion)

• Watched the moment on TV with other players and said, "That didn’t seem right."
• Said Bryson clearly improved his backswing area.
• Said it doesn’t matter if it was on purpose or careless — the penalty was fair.
• Was annoyed Bryson took so long arguing, delaying the tournament.
• Said he isn’t a big fan of Bryson and felt it was "a shame" he held things up.

Max Homa (Fellow Golfer)

• Defended Bryson, saying he’d never cheat at golf.
• Didn’t like how the penalty was handled or shown to the public.
• Said the rule is meant to stop cheating, but he doesn’t think Bryson did it on purpose.

Russell Henley

• Called it a "tough one."
• Said everyone should follow the same rules.
• Pointed out Bryson is on TV every shot, so he got caught — others might not.

Xander Schauffele

• Said Bryson was just stepping like normal to hit a shot.
• Said The R&A ruled it a penalty whether intentional or not.

What The R&A Said

• Grant Moir (rules boss) said the rule applies even if accidental.
• CEO Mark Darbon told BBC Radio the decision was "clear-cut" from a rules view.
• He said no matter which player it was, the same rule applies.

Important Point: The tournament officials said this wasn’t about blaming Bryson on purpose — it was about following the same rules for everyone.

Summary

Bryson DeChambeau got a two-stroke penalty at The Open because he accidentally pressed down tall grass near his ball, which is against the rules. Some golfers like Rory McIlroy agreed with the penalty, while others like Max Homa defended Bryson’s character. The R&A said the rule is the same for everyone and the call was clear, even if it was an accident.

FAQ

Q: What is a two-stroke penalty in golf?
A: It means a player has to add two extra strokes (hits) to their score, which makes their total worse.

Q: Did Bryson DeChambeau mean to break the rule?
A: The officials said it was accidental. Some players like Max Homa don’t think he meant to; others like Rory McIlroy said it doesn’t matter if it was on purpose.

Q: Why did it take so long to give the penalty?
A: Bryson finished his round first, then officials reviewed TV footage and talked to him after. He also re-enacted his swing and argued, which delayed things.

Q: What is The R&A?
A: It’s the group that makes the rules and runs The Open golf championship.

Q: Why did some players think it was unfair?
A: Because Bryson is on TV all the time, he got caught — but a player not on TV might have done the same and not been penalized.