Bryson DeChambeau's two‑stroke penalty fuels controversy at the 2026 Open

During the second round of the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two‑stroke penalty for unintentionally improving his swing path by trampling grass on the fifth hole. The ruling changed his round from 66 to 68 and dropped him from second place to a lower position, ultimately finishing tied for 14th.

DeChambeau reportedly asked officials if he could involve President Donald Trump in the dispute, a request the R&A denied. He later posted on social media that the incident "fires me up" and would motivate him over the weekend.

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who was playing with DeChambeau, defended the American, saying, "Bryson, I've known him for a long time and he's definitely not a cheater." Scheffler called for a stricter but balanced policing of the game, noting the impact of remote camera angles. Fellow players offered mixed reactions: Rory McIlroy labelled DeChambeau’s conduct "performative" and said he was "not fond" of him, while other commentators highlighted the difficulty of interpreting televised footage.

The penalty became a major talking point throughout the tournament, which was ultimately won by Ryan Fox. Scheffler finished tied for fourth, three shots behind the champion, after a final‑round 67. His own title defence also fell short, as he ended three strokes behind the winner.