American golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau has confirmed he will not quit the British Open despite his anger over a two-shot penalty for a rules violation.
The two-time major winner thought he was just a shot off the lead on seven under par after shooting a 66 at Royal Birkdale on Friday, and looked poised to be the main challenger to Australian halfway leader, Lucas Herbert.
But the 32-year-old was whisked away by rules officials after his round to the scene of what they felt had been a rules infringement earlier at the fifth hole.
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DeChambeau had been accused of trampling on long grass close to his ball which cleared the way for him to get a clean backswing, but he was clearly desperately unhappy about any such suggestion as he could be seen vehemently protesting his innocence.
There was even a suggestion that he told officials he wouldn’t be playing on Saturday if he was penalised.
It was later confirmed he had been given a two-shot penalty for “inadvertently improving his lie”, which pushed him to five-under for the tournament, now three shots behind Herbert and down to tied-fifth place behind three other Americans, Cameron Young, Ryan Gerard and Jackson Suber.
“Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of intended backswing on the fifth hole,” said R&A rules official Grant Moir, stressing it had been an “accidental” violation of the rule by the American.
The two-time US Open champion later refused to confirm he would definitely be playing in Saturday’s third round, refusing to answer any questions when he walked past the media, saying only: “Are you guys having a great night? I’m having a great night.”
One report had suggested he was so annoyed by the ruling he had been talking about not playing on Saturday, although he did later go off to the range with darkness gathering with his team to “hit some balls”.
Later, however, DeChambeau confirmed on social media that he would play on.
“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 said on X.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau’s behaviour has been savaged by fans and experts.
“I think it’s childish, it’s immature. It’s a ridiculous reaction,” former pro turned commentator Brandel Chamblee said.
“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. They did the right thing and what Bryson needs to do is except the consequences of his action, even if it was accidental.
“It doesn’t matter, carry on. He’s three back on the weekend of a major championship. Carry on being a great player.”
Golf writer Eamon Lynch also lashed DeChambeau.
“We saw all the reasons why Bryson is so compelling,” he said.
“We saw all the reason why the PGA Tour should want him back and we saw all the reasons why there’s a huge contingency on the PGA Tour, among the fan base and in the locker room, who think he’s not worth the hassle.
“What you saw was all the personality traits that, I guess, have defined Bryson over the years: the inability to control his emotions, the refusal to take any responsibility, a victim mentality. You see this unerring ability to turn what should be a great day into something that feels more like a stumble.
“And this instance that he can curate his own reality, live in safe space free from the media, free from being contradicted in anyway, which is not realistic for any elite athlete these days.
“A rules breach doesn’t stain a reputation. It happens every week. What stains a reputation is acting in an infantile, unprofessional manner after it.
“This is all on him. This is a guy who just raises self sabotage into an art form.”
DeChambeau’s penalty wasn’t the only controversial incident of the day as Jon Rahm, who shot a 67 to get to four under, was given an official warning under the tournament’s serious misconduct policy for throwing a club after his tee shot on the 15th hole.
