SOUTHPORT, England, July 17, 2026 – Bryson DeChambeau was handed a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently improving his lie on the fifth hole during the second round of the British Open at Royal Birkdale. The penalty dropped him from solo second place into a tie for fifth, three shots behind the leader.

DeChambeau, who had missed the cut at the year's first three majors, finished his second round with a four-under-par 66, bringing him to seven under for the tournament and just one shot behind halfway leader and fellow LIV golfer Lucas Herbert.

The penalty was assessed after a rules official confronted DeChambeau about his actions on the fifth hole, where he had hit a wayward tee shot into thick grass. Observers noted DeChambeau taking practice swings and walking near his ball before his second shot. Following an animated discussion with the official, DeChambeau's score on the fifth hole was changed from a bogey to a triple-bogey under rule 8.1 of the rules of golf.

"Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of intended backswing on fifth hole," said R&A rules official Grant Moir.

DeChambeau was later seen practicing on the driving range at Royal Birkdale. According to Golf Channel, his agent and caddie stated that while DeChambeau may have unintentionally stepped on some tall grass around his ball, it was not on the line or path of his swing and thus did not improve his lie.

As a result of the ruling, DeChambeau's agent told Golf Channel that the golfer may choose not to continue in the tournament on Saturday. The agent also said DeChambeau will decide on Saturday whether to return for the third round.

Sources