DeChambeau hit with two-shot Open penalty after grass-stomping review
R&A officials reviewed Bryson DeChambeau’s actions on the fifth hole, turning his 66 into a 68 and dropping him to 5 under at Royal Birkdale.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Bryson DeChambeau thought he had finished Friday at the 2026 Open Championship one shot off the lead. Then R&A officials sent him back to the fifth hole.
The review ended with a two-stroke penalty for DeChambeau after officials determined he had trampled grass behind his ball during the second round at Royal Birkdale, CBS Sports reported. The ruling moved him from 7 under to 5 under and changed his place on the board from solo second to a tie for fifth.
DeChambeau had closed his round with a birdie on the 18th green, CBS Sports reported. He pumped his fist and acknowledged the crowd after reaching 7 under, which at that moment left him one behind leader Lucas Herbert heading into the weekend.
Before he could finish the scoring process, R&A officials told him they wanted to review a possible violation from the fifth hole, according to CBS Sports. The issue came after DeChambeau’s tee shot on the drivable par 4 finished in tall grass well to the right.
Video review on the fifth hole
Golf Channel posted footage on X showing DeChambeau with rules officials at the fifth hole as they discussed what the network described as “trampled grass for an improved lie.” CBS Sports reported that video showed DeChambeau stepping on tall grass behind his ball multiple times.
R&A officials ruled that DeChambeau had improved the area for his swing, according to CBS Sports. The penalty added two shots to his score on the hole.
DeChambeau and his caddie rode out to the scene with officials, CBS Sports reported. Footage showed DeChambeau gesturing during the discussion, though the Golf Channel clip did not include audio of the exchange.
The decision stood after the on-course review. CBS Sports reported that DeChambeau, his caddie and his agent then continued a lengthy discussion back near the scoring area.
Leaderboard hit
The ruling had an immediate effect on DeChambeau’s scorecard. His bogey at the fifth became a triple bogey, and his second-round 66 became a 68, according to CBS Sports.
That dropped him to 5 under for the championship. CBS Sports reported he was tied for fifth alongside Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim after the penalty, three shots behind Herbert.
The timing made the ruling especially costly. DeChambeau had appeared set to enter the weekend at Royal Birkdale in solo second, within one shot of the lead, before the review changed the shape of his championship chase.
CBS Sports reported the penalty became one of the main developments of Friday’s second round at The Open. DeChambeau still remained in contention, but he will start the weekend with two more strokes on his card than he first believed when he walked off the 18th green.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.