DeChambeau says Open penalty cost him chance at Claret Jug

Published Jul 24, 06:25 AM UTC

Bryson DeChambeau has spoken publicly for the first time about the controversial two-shot penalty he received during the second round of The Open at Royal Birkdale. Officials reviewed footage and ruled he had improved the area of his backswing by flattening long grass on the fifth hole, turning his bogey into a triple-bogey seven. The penalty dropped him from outright second to fifth at the midway point. DeChambeau threatened to withdraw but played on, making the cut and finishing six shots behind winner Ryan Fox. He stated that without the penalty on the fifth and a poor hole on the 11th, he would have been tied for the lead. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler defended DeChambeau, insisting he is 'not a cheater,' while Rory McIlroy criticized the incident as 'performative' and accused DeChambeau of holding the tournament hostage.