Bryson DeChambeau lands two-shot penalty after controversial rule break

The two-time major champion was adjudged to have improved his stance as he attempted to escape from the rough earlier in his round.

DeChambeau had produced a brilliant birdie-birdie finish which he thought had put him in the final group for Saturday on seven under par.

However, moments after signing his card he was informed there were issues with how he played the driveable par-four fifth and was taken out to the spot of the alleged infringement while the later finishers were still out on the course.

The suggestion appeared to be that having carved his drive wide right over the pond into rough he had trampled down some high grass which allowed him a better angle to hit his ball.

After several minutes of animated discussion, which involved the 32-year-old – club in hand – attempting to show R&A officials how he had played the shot, the two-time US Open champion was driven back to the recorders’ office with a face like thunder where further discussions were held.

DeChambeau made bogey on the hole but as a result of the penalty his score was amended to a seven on the official leaderboard, meaning his round was adjusted to a 68 which dropped him into a share of fifth.

“Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing, his backswing, when he was playing his second shot,” said R&A’s executive director – governance Grant Moir.

The two-time US Open winner walked past waiting media – to whom he had refused to speak in his previous five major rounds – and headed straight for the practice ground.

“I’m going to hit some balls,” was all he would say as he went to the range at 9.40pm.

DeChambeau spent almost 40 minutes hitting balls, lit only by the giant TV screen, until he left at 10.29pm.

Moir went to explain the exact nature of the infringement.

“Ruling 8.1 restricts what a player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke, and this includes the area of the player’s intended swing.

“So an improvement means to alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke.

“I’ll stress that this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson’s case.

“What the prohibited action here is that the player must not move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object.

“A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance, if in some situations that improves the condition affecting the stroke.

“But when doing so, the player must take the least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation and is not entitled to a normal stance or swing.

“I would reiterate this rule applies even when there’s no intention to improve the area, as was the case with Bryson.”

DeChambeau dropped to three behind leader Lucas Herbert, whose brilliance in equalling the lowest round in a major with a 62 was, incredibly matched about 20 minutes later by American Sam Burns.

Australian Herbert led by two from first-round leader Jackson Suber (69), Cameron Young (67) and Ryan Gerard (67).

DeChambeau’s penalty was not the only incident of the day as Jon Rahm, who shot a 67 to get to four under, was given an official warning for throwing a club after his tee shot on the 15th hole under The Open’s serious misconduct policy.