Kevin Kisner expressed strong frustration regarding the two-stroke penalty assessed to Bryson DeChambeau during the British Open on Friday.
Speaking on the “Fore Play Podcast” on Tuesday, Kisner, NBC’s lead golf analyst, questioned the fairness of penalizing DeChambeau based primarily on video replay rather than real-time observation by on-course officials.
“I have a really hard time going back after rounds to penalize people based on them being on camera,” Kisner said. “If Jose Ballester hit it over there and did the same exact thing, he’s not on camera and we’re not giving him a penalty, right?”
Kisner emphasized his concern about relying on television footage for rules decisions, despite the presence of walking officials in each group. “We have the capability to show every shot. We can watch these guys. If that’s what we’re going to use as police, even though there’s a walking official in every group, I hate it. I hate having to go back on it.”
The penalty was issued when R&A officials determined that DeChambeau had illegally improved his lie in the rough on the fifth hole. The two-stroke penalty moved him from 7-under par and one shot out of the lead to 5-under par, dropping him into a tie for fifth place.
“I hate that we’re looking at awkward camera angles to say he helped his intended swing. It didn’t look good, but I can’t be the one telling you that he should get a penalty,” Kisner added.
The incident divided golfers, with some supporting DeChambeau while others, including Rory McIlroy, criticized the American for holding the tournament “hostage.” Despite the controversy, DeChambeau finished tied for 14th at the end of the weekend.
Grant Moir, the R&A’s executive director of governance, defended the decision in a statement, explaining that “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.” He clarified that the rule applies even when the action is accidental, as was the case with DeChambeau.