Bryson DeChambeau’s hopes of successful The Open suffered a serious blow after the American was handed a two-shot penalty following his second spherical at Royal Birkdale.
The 2-time main champion appeared to have moved to inside one shot of chief Lucas Herbert after carding a four-under-par 66, however was known as apart by guidelines officers instantly after leaving the course to debate a possible guidelines breach.
Following a prolonged evaluate, DeChambeau was penalised for “inadvertently enhancing his lie” on the fifth gap, dropping him from seven underneath par to 5 underneath and leaving him three pictures behind Herbert heading into the weekend.
The 32-year-old was investigated after tv footage appeared to point out him trampling lengthy grass behind his ball within the tough earlier than enjoying his shot.
After spending greater than 20 minutes with officers, together with R&A chief government Mark Darbon, DeChambeau declined to debate the ruling or verify whether or not he would proceed within the match.
DeChambeau fumes at determination
When requested by reporters, he merely replied: “Are you guys having an excellent night time? I’m having an excellent night time.”
He then headed to the driving vary, the place he greeted followers and continued practising along with his workforce.
The incident unfolded after DeChambeau birdied the 18th to finish his spherical earlier than being pushed again to the fifth gap with guidelines officers to evaluate the state of affairs.
He was later discovered to have breached Rule 8.1, which covers actions that enhance the circumstances affecting a participant’s stroke.
R&A guidelines official Grant Moir confirmed: “Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently enhancing the world of supposed backswing on the fifth gap.”
The penalty leaves DeChambeau with important floor to make up if he’s to say a primary Open Championship title.
