‘Not a cheater’: ‘Childish’ DeChambeau threatens to quit after Open penalty
Bryson DeChambeau confirmed he will continue at Royal Birkdale after reports claimed he threatened to quit The Open Championship after copping a two-shot penalty for improving his lie during the second round.
The American, who initially carded a 4-under 67 to sit one shot behind Australian leader Lucas Herbert, was approached by tournament officials after his round.
DeChambeau argues with officials. Sky Sports
Now, DeChambeau will enter the weekend three behind Herbert instead of one, his bogey 5 at the fifth hole changed to a triple-bogey 7.
DeChambeau hit his drive at the par-4 fifth hole far right and eventually found the ball in a native area.
Replays showed the two-time major winner stamping down on different patches of tall grass near his ball. It may have affected not the lie of the ball, but the path for his eventual swing.
After news broke that officials were considering a two-stroke penalty, DeChambeau went back to the scene on the fifth hole with his caddie and two rules officials to discuss the sequence of events.
US TV cameras captured a heated discussion several minutes long, and at points DeChambeau could be seen gesticulating and getting animated.
More than an hour after his round ended, the R&A, who organise The Open, finalised their official decision, his new score being reflected on the leaderboard online.
Reporting from the Open, the Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported that DeChambeau was unsure about playing the next round, saying he will make a final decision before the third round begins.
That news sparked a reaction from the golf world, with commentator Brandel Chamblee calling the American’s reaction “childish”.
“The rules officials did exactly what they were meant to do. The evidence is very clear and that’s why the rules officials stood their ground, and did the right thing,” Chamblee said.
“Bryson needs to accept the consequences of his action, even if it was accidental.”
However, just after midnight local time the LIV golfer took to social media, assuring all that he would play the next round.
“Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it,” he wrote on X.
DeChambeau’s agent Brett Falkoff denied the star golfer deliberately misappropriated the rules.
“He’s a lot of things. He’s not a cheater,” Falkoff said. “He’s a big boy … but he certainly feels he was unfairly penalised.”
DeChambeau was penalised for improving his lie. Sky Sports