SOUTHPORT, England — The incident involving Bryson DeChambeau’s two-shot penalty during the British Open continued to resonate among players at Royal Birkdale on Saturday.
With tournament officials finalizing the penalty assessment for DeChambeau’s alleged improvement of his shot’s lie, stance, and swing path on the fifth hole of Friday’s second round, the release of Saturday’s tee times was delayed until late evening, raising questions among competitors.
“I don’t have social media, so I was wondering why our tee times weren’t coming out at about 10:50 p.m. last night,’’ Xander Schauffele remarked.
“I’m assuming that (the DeChambeau situation) had something to do with it.”
It did.
The penalty sparked debate among peers regarding its appropriateness, with some questioning whether the two-shot deduction was justified.
“It’s a tough one,” Schauffele explained. “I haven’t spoken to him or heard his account, but he was simply positioning himself as he normally would to execute a shot. The R&A indicated that intent is irrelevant—it remains a penalty regardless.”
“It’s difficult in such scenarios, particularly when navigating dense rough to reach the ball,” Schauffele added. “These situations are uncommon, and granting benefit of the doubt is understandable. His frustration is palpable, especially given his strong performance, which continued afterward.”
Russell Henley observed the incident via television coverage.
“The R&A clearly determined he altered his backswing path,” Henley stated. “I’m unsure of the exact conditions beforehand or if vegetation swayed after he stepped there. Regardless, it’s a challenging ruling for him.”
DeChambeau had nearly secured a 4-under 66, advancing to 7-under for the tournament and occupying second place. The penalty reduced his total to 5-under and placed him in a tie for fifth as he prepared for Saturday’s third round.
“Every shot is critical,” Henley emphasized. “It’s hard to process in the moment, but consistency in rule enforcement matters. Unfortunately, this creates scrutiny, though broadcast coverage magnifies the circumstance.”
Max Homa, speaking post-round, expressed disagreement with the ruling.
“I’ve known Bryson for years,” Homa said. “He doesn’t seek to bend rules—golf isn’t in his character. The rule itself targets intentional advantage, yet its phrasing feels punitive toward unintentional actions. I hope no narrative of cheating takes root; that’s not him.”
He added, “His frustration is valid, especially with no intent to violate rules. The animated exchange with officials underscores how rulings can feel like judgments. I agree—it’s disheartening when clear intent is absent. The complexity of rules demands trust in officiating accuracy, and I’m certain he’ll channel this energy constructively.”
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