Story perspectives

R&A Penalizes DeChambeau Two Strokes, Falls to Fifth

7/20/2026

Summary

DeChambeau Penalized

R&A officials penalized Bryson DeChambeau two strokes at the 2026 Open.
The penalty was for improving his lie on fifth hole at Royal Birkdale.
It changed his 66 to 68, dropping him from second to a tie for fifth.
DeChambeau warned he would call President Donald Trump if the ruling stayed, but no call was received.
He returned, finished 14th and stayed in the UK for the LIV Golf event.

Summary

Scheffler Calls Reform

Scottie Scheffler said the Open exposed a need for stricter rule policing while balancing TV-exposed players.
Grant Moir explained that the penalty remained because the rule applies even when a breach is accidental.
Scheffler cited Jon Rahm’s 2020 Memorial penalty as a precedent for subtle infractions.
Russell Henley and Sam Burns argued that high-profile golfers receive more scrutiny and called for uniform enforcement and tighter monitoring to preserve golf’s traditions.

History

Historical Context

In 2004 the Royal and Ancient Golf Club spun off The R&A as golf’s governing authority, taking charge of major championships and the rulebook. Since then the body has emphasized etiquette and integrity—its “overriding principle”—and in 2010 introduced Rule 18-2b, penalising deliberate lie-improvement, a rule that affected Adam Scott and again Bryson DeChambeau in 2026.

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DeChambeau Penalized

R&A officials penalized Bryson DeChambeau two strokes at the 2026 Open.
The penalty was for improving his lie on fifth hole at Royal Birkdale.
It changed his 66 to 68, dropping him from second to a tie for fifth.
DeChambeau warned he would call President Donald Trump if the ruling stayed, but no call was received.
He returned, finished 14th and stayed in the UK for the LIV Golf event.

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