Bryson DeChambeau faces possible 2-shot penalty at The Open Championship

SOUTHPORT, England — Bryson DeChambeau could be issued a two-stroke penalty at The Open Championship for illegally improving his lie, dramatically hurting his chances of winning at Royal Birkdale.

On the fifth hole on Friday, DeChambeau hit his tee shot far right, past the red stake penalty area and into tall grass that was more than waist-high. He elected to play the ball as it lies and not take a penalty, and moved through the grass behind his ball before eventually taking a shot. DeChambeau bogeyed the hole, but rallied from there and closed believing he had shot a 66 and was at 7-under-par for the tournament, one behind leader Lucas Herbert.

But almost immediately after, and before signing his scorecard, R&A officials met with DeChambeau and his caddie, Greg Bodine. It then began a surreal scene as the group all rode in carts back to the fifth hole and stood in the same spot, debating the potential penalty.

DeChambeau became increasingly animated as the conversation continued, repeatedly re-enacting his swing. He then handed his club to Bodine and stood with both hands clasped behind his back, before being agitated.

The group departed after several minutes and returned to the scoring area. The group all went into the office, which is a closed area.

Rule 8.1 under the R&A’s official Rules of Golf “restricts what a player may do to improve any of these protected ‘conditions affecting the stroke.’” They include:

• The lie of the player’s ball at rest,
• The area of the player’s intended stance,
• The area of the player’s intended swing,
• The player’s line of play, and
• The relief area where the player will drop or place a ball.

The player is not allowed to “move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object.” He is permitted to “fairly search for their ball by taking reasonable actions to find and identify it.”

If he is penalized, DeChambeau’s score will move to 5-under for the tournament and move him from solo second to tied for fifth with Sam Burns and Si Woo Kim.

Jackson Suber, who had the first-round lead, would move into the final group on Saturday afternoon with Herbert. Cameron Young and Ryan Gerard have joined Suber at 6-under.

This story will be updated