Bryson DeChambeau Receives Two-Stroke Penalty at Open Championship

Bryson DeChambeau received a two-stroke penalty from the R&A during the second round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, on July 17, 2026. The penalty was assessed for illegally improving the conditions affecting his stroke on the fifth hole under Rule 8.1 of the Rules of Golf.

DeChambeau's tee shot landed 257 yards right of the fairway into tall fescue grass.

He moved through the grass behind the ball before playing his second shot, and the infraction occurred even though the action was accidental. DeChambeau's score on the fifth hole was changed to a triple-bogey 7. His second-round total was revised from 66 to 68, and his 36-hole score dropped to 5 under par.

He is now tied for fifth place with Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim. R&A rules official Grant Moir said the penalty applies even when the action is accidental. Officials reviewed the incident with DeChambeau and his caddie Greg Bodine for more than an hour before finalizing the decision.

DeChambeau had initially believed he had shot a 66 and stood at 7 under par, one shot behind leader Lucas Herbert. " DeChambeau is scheduled to tee off at 3:30 p.m. local time on Saturday for the third round.

Jackson Suber, who led after the first round, moved into the final group with Herbert for the third round.