Bryson DeChambeau Penalty: How Moving Tall Grass Derailed His British Open Charge

Television footage showed Bryson DeChambeau moving long grass behind his ball before making his swing, prompting officials to review whether he had improved the conditions affecting his stroke. (Credit: Jacob Gralton, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

Bryson DeChambeau's bid to seize control of The Open Championship took an unexpected turn on Friday after a two-stroke penalty wiped away part of an outstanding second round and reshaped the leaderboard at Royal Birkdale.

The R&A assessed Bryson DeChambeau a two-stroke penalty following his second round in the 164th Open Championship for allegedly improving his lie in the tall grass before his second shot on the fifth hole.

More: https://t.co/4ZFv35LuR1 pic.twitter.com/TsplG9GrDC

— ESPN (@espn) July 17, 2026