The two‑stroke penalty handed to Bryson DeChambeau late Friday continues to dominate conversation at the 2026 Open Championship, as evidenced by Sam Burns’ post‑round press conference Saturday evening at Royal Birkdale.
Sam Burns entered the final round with a two‑stroke advantage after carding a 65 on Saturday and is the Open leader. Yet the controversy surrounding DeChambeau’s penalty resurfaced during his post‑round media scrum.
Sam Burns Defends Bryson DeChambeau, Questioning Penalty Justification
It has been a remarkable week for Burns, a five‑time PGA Tour winner who stands on the brink of capturing his first major title on Sunday. After a 73 in Thursday’s opening round, he tied the major scoring record with a 62 on Friday, catapulting into contention before taking the lead on Saturday.
Burns’ presence at Royal Birkdale is a minor miracle; he expected to welcome his second child this week, but the baby arrived early and his wife, Caroline, encouraged him to compete.
Because DeChambeau received a two‑stroke penalty after Round 2, the two were paired together in Round 3, both finishing at five under par. “I thought the fans were very supportive of Bryson today,” Burns remarked about playing alongside his rival.
Although the pair did not discuss the penalty, Burns offered his own view, diverging from the majority of public sentiment. He expressed sympathy for DeChambeau, saying, “In my personal opinion, I honestly feel bad for Bryson in the situation that he was in. From my perspective, I didn’t feel like maybe there was enough evidence for him to deserve a penalty there.”
Burns also called the timing of the penalty “unfortunate,” noting that DeChambeau was docked two strokes long after the incident on the 5th hole. “I feel bad for him. I think he played an incredible round of golf late yesterday, and it’s unfortunate to have something kind of like that where they come in after your round and tell you you’re being docked two shots,” Burns said.
He continued, “But props to him. He came out and played a really nice round of golf today, and that takes a lot of grit to be able to come out and do that. So I was impressed.”
DeChambeau finished with a 69 on Saturday, leaving him four strokes behind Burns’ lead heading into the final round.
Scottie Scheffler Has ‘a Ton to Say’ on DeChambeau Penalty but Remains Silent
Burns’ support for DeChambeau stands in contrast to criticisms voiced by other players and analysts. Rory McIlroy described his feelings toward DeChambeau as “not particularly fond,” accusing him of holding the tournament “hostage” and calling the ruling “obvious.” Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee labeled DeChambeau’s behavior “childish” and “immature.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who was playing with DeChambeau when the penalty incident occurred, said he had “a ton to say on” DeChambeau’s penalty but chose not to share his thoughts publicly. After posting a 70 in the third round, Scheffler explained his silence, stating that “I don’t really feel like now is the time or place for me to comment… I’m focused on what I need to do. I need to go out tomorrow and shoot a low round.” He added that while he has thoughts, they “are probably nothing that I’m concerned with right now” and that the eve of the final round is not the appropriate setting.
It remains to be seen whether Scheffler will feel more comfortable addressing the topic after the tournament concludes.
