DeChambeau penalty drama crowds a record day at The Open
Bryson DeChambeau may withdraw after a two-stroke penalty, while Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns tied the major scoring record with 62s.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Bryson DeChambeau’s Open Championship turned from charge to controversy Friday at Royal Birkdale, where a two-stroke penalty changed his second-round 66 into a 68 and left his weekend status uncertain.
CBS Sports reported that DeChambeau was penalized over whether he stomped down grass to improve his swing path on the par-4 fifth hole. His agent told reporters the two-time U.S. Open champion could withdraw and would decide Saturday morning.
Without the penalty, DeChambeau would have been 7 under and one shot behind Lucas Herbert entering the weekend, according to CBS Sports. Instead, after closing birdie-birdie, he sits three back of Herbert.
The rules drama did not wipe out the golf. Royal Birkdale produced a leaderboard packed with elite ball strikers and a Friday scoring burst that put two players into the major championship record book.
Ball strikers take over
CBS Sports’ strokes-gained numbers through 36 holes showed Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, DeChambeau and Rory McIlroy as the top four ball strikers in the field. None ranked inside the top 100 in putting at that stage.
Among the top 10 ball strikers listed by CBS Sports, only Cameron Young and Shane Lowry ranked inside the top 100 in putting. Young was 52nd and Lowry was 89th.
- Jon Rahm, 137th in putting
- Scottie Scheffler, 128th
- Bryson DeChambeau, 112th
- Rory McIlroy, 132nd
- Cameron Young, 52nd
- Alex Noren, 148th
- Patrick Reed, 104th
- Shane Lowry, 89th
- Ben Griffin, 147th
- Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, 117th
Herbert and Burns make history
Herbert and Sam Burns both signed for 62s in the second round, tying the lowest single-round score in major championship history, CBS Sports reported.
There have now been seven 62s in men’s major championship history, all since Brendan Grace first reached the number at the 2017 Open. CBS Sports noted that the Masters remains the only major without a score lower than 63.
Herbert said he was caught between pride and frustration after his round.
“I'm absolutely disappointed, and at the same time, so proud of today,” Herbert said. “Very, very proud to put my name on that list of guys that have shot 62 in a major championship.”
Burns said he did not know what he had done until after the round.
“I had no idea until they told me up there. I didn't realize that was the case,” Burns said.
Conduct questions flare again
Player behavior also came under the spotlight. CBS Sports noted Joaquin Niemann received a two-stroke penalty at Shinnecock Hills for throwing his club 50 yards near the end of his first round, with the USGA ruling it serious misconduct under Rule 1.2b.
At the Masters, Sergio Garcia received a warning from Augusta National after an outburst in the final round, and Robert MacIntyre was reminded about the code of conduct, according to CBS Sports.
On Friday, the broadcast said Rahm received a code-of-conduct warning from a rules official after throwing his club on the 15th tee. Golf Channel posted video of the incident.
Family names and late escapes
Pierceson Coody, making his Open debut, was inside the top 20 entering the weekend. His grandfather, 1971 Masters champion Charles Coody, played his only Open at Royal Birkdale in 1971 and finished tied for fifth, according to CBS Sports.
Alex Fitzpatrick also moved inside the top 10 at halfway, while his older brother Matt Fitzpatrick, ranked world No. 3 by CBS Sports, missed the cut after rounds of 72.
Jackson Suber followed an opening 65 with a 69 in his first trip to Europe and first links event, earning a late Saturday tee time. Jose Luis Ballester, the former U.S. Amateur champion, made eagle at 17 and birdie at 18 to survive the cut after needing three shots over the final two holes, according to CBS Sports.
This story draws on original reporting from CBS Sports.