Bryson DeChambeau assessed two-stroke penalty for improving lie during second round of 2026 British Open

Bryson DeChambeau faces a significant setback at the 2026 British Open after officials issued a two-stroke penalty. The ruling stems from an incident during his second round at Royal Birkdale, where he was penalized for improving his lie on the par-4 fifth hole.

Tournament officials from The R&A determined that DeChambeau violated Rule 8-1 by moving or bending natural objects near his ball. While DeChambeau argued his case for roughly 15 minutes, the decision remained unchanged. The ruling shifted his score on that hole from a bogey to a triple bogey, moving his round total from 66 to 68.

This penalty adjustment leaves DeChambeau at 5-under for the tournament, dropping him into a tie for fifth place. The golfer now sits three strokes off the lead heading into the remainder of the event. Before the penalty, he had surged up the leaderboard with birdies on the ninth, 11th, 17th, and 18th holes.

Grant Moir, the executive director of governance for The R&A, clarified that the rule applies even if the player does not intentionally break the regulations. Players must choose the least intrusive method when navigating their stance, even in challenging terrain. The tournament landscape looks different now as the field prepares for the next phase of competition.