American golf superstar Bryson DeChambeau’s continued participation in The Open remains up in the air after he was left fuming over being given 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, 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.
DeChambeau had been accused of trampling on long grass close to his ball which cleared the way for him to get a clean back swing, but he was clearly desperately unhappy about any such suggestion as he could be seen protesting his innocence.
There was even a suggestion that he told officials he would not play tomorrow 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 back swing on the fifth hole,” R&A rules official Grant Moir said, 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 play in the 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.”
DeChambeau later went off to the range with his team as darkness gathered to “hit some balls”.
DeChambeau’s penalty was not 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.
AAP
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