Bryson DeChambeau says Open penalty cost him shot at Claret Jug
Bryson DeChambeau said a two-shot Open penalty at Royal Birkdale left him six shots off Ryan Fox’s winning total.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Bryson DeChambeau says his Open penalty at Royal Birkdale kept him from chasing the Claret Jug, after a two-shot ruling helped turn a Friday surge into a weekend spent playing catch-up.
ESPN reported that DeChambeau, now playing LIV Golf UK at JCB Golf and Country Club, said at a news conference that he felt he could have been “right there for the Claret Jug” without the penalty and trouble on another hole.
The 32-year-old opened The Open Championship with rounds of 67 and 66, according to ESPN. His second-round score was later changed to 68 after officials assessed a retrospective two-stroke penalty on the fifth hole.
The ruling changed his bogey at the fifth into a triple bogey. ESPN reported that the adjustment knocked DeChambeau from second to fifth on the leaderboard at the time.
Why was Bryson DeChambeau penalized at The Open?
Officials ruled after video review that DeChambeau improved the area for his backswing by standing on and flattening long grass, according to ESPN. In golf, players can be penalized if they improve conditions affecting a stroke, including the space where the club will move.
DeChambeau objected to the decision and threatened to withdraw from the tournament, ESPN reported. He stayed in the field, shot 69 in the third round and closed with a 72.
Ryan Fox won the championship at 10 under for his first major title. DeChambeau finished tied for 14th at 4 under, six shots behind Fox.
DeChambeau pointed to two holes as the difference. “Besides the fifth, being three over on it, and the 11th, that’s six shots,” he said, according to ESPN. “That’s tied for the lead right there.”
He also said the week was still a battle after a rough run in majors. “Yeah, I made the cut,” DeChambeau said. “It was a good fight. I wish I’d have given it more on Saturday and Sunday, it felt like I could have.”
How did other golfers react?
Rory McIlroy took aim at DeChambeau’s post-round protest, saying he was “keeping the tournament hostage,” according to ESPN.
McIlroy added: “I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention.”
Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, was asked about McIlroy’s comments ahead of the 3M Open. Scheffler said he has “never been a big fan of personal jabs,” according to ESPN.
Scheffler also played down the idea of rivalry driving golf week to week. “My biggest rivalry week in and week out is the golf course,” he said.
For DeChambeau, the result still marked his best major finish since he was runner-up to Scheffler at the 2025 PGA Championship, after missing the cut in his previous three major starts.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.