‘Two holes and I’m there for the Claret Jug’: DeChambeau says two-shot penalty cost him Open

Bryson DeChambeau is pointing to a specific officiating decision as the reason he missed out on the Claret Jug at the recent Open Championship. During the tournament at Royal Birkdale, officials handed the American a two-stroke penalty following a video review. The incident occurred at the 5th hole, where officials ruled that DeChambeau improved his backswing area by flattening long grass. The penalty adjusted his second-round score from 68 to 70 and dropped him from second to fifth place in the standings.

DeChambeau expressed significant frustration over the ruling at the time, even discussing a potential withdrawal from the competition. While he continued to play, finishing the weekend six shots behind winner Ryan Fox, he maintains that the penalty was the difference between a mid-pack finish and a victory. He stated that the combined impact of the penalty and his performance on the 11th hole accounted for a six-shot swing in his overall score.

The tournament marked DeChambeau's strongest major finish since his runner-up position at the 2025 US PGA Championship. He is currently competing in the LIV Golf event near Uttoxeter. Reflecting on the result, he remains convinced that the two-stroke deduction prevented a direct challenge for the title. Despite the controversy, he finished in a tie for 14th place, marking a return to form after missing the cut in his previous three major starts.