Bryson DeChambeau appeared to move within one shot of the lead Friday before a post-round ruling turned his second round into one of the biggest talking points at Royal Birkdale.
Bryson DeChambeau walked off the 18th green at 7 under par and one shot off the lead, but about an hour later a two-stroke penalty reshaped his tournament.
For about an hour Friday evening, DeChambeau had the answer. Then the scoreboard changed, and so did the story.
DeChambeau closed his second round at Royal Birkdale with a birdie on the 18th to post a 4-under 66, moving to 7 under for the championship and within one shot of the lead. After an opening-round 67 and a week of criticism, he looked every bit like one of the tournament favorites. He left the course in second place with a legitimate chance to win the Claret Jug.
That position did not last.
Shortly after finishing his round, tournament officials approached DeChambeau about a potential rules violation on the par-4 fifth hole. More than an hour later, they assessed a two-stroke penalty, changing his bogey into a triple bogey and his 66 into a 68. He fell from 7 under to 5 under, dropping into a tie for fifth and three shots behind the leader.
The ruling centered on DeChambeau's drive into a penalty area on the fifth. Believing the ball was playable, he took practice swings and moved around the ball before advancing it. The R&A ruled that he had improved the area of his intended backswing, which violated Rule 8.1.
Grant Moir, the R&A's executive director of governance, said intent was not part of the decision. The penalty applied "even when the action was accidental, as it was in Bryson's case." Players are not allowed to move, bend or break growing or attached natural objects if doing so improves the conditions affecting the stroke. A player is entitled to take a fair stance, Moir said, but must take the least intrusive course of action and is not guaranteed a normal stance or swing.
DeChambeau disagreed with the ruling. Television footage showed him arguing his case with officials. After the penalty became official, he left the scoring area without speaking to reporters and headed directly to the practice range. Reports later indicated that he briefly considered skipping Saturday's third round before deciding to continue.
The controversy overshadowed what otherwise was a historic day at Royal Birkdale. Friday marked the first time in Open Championship history that two players shot 62 on the same day.
Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns each joined the major championship 62 club within roughly 30 minutes of one another. Herbert narrowly missed becoming the first player to shoot 61 in a men's major championship and finished the day atop the leaderboard.
The focus now shifts to Moving day on Saturday. DeChambeau starts the third round at 5 under and remains within striking distance. How he responds over the final 36 holes will shape the rest of his championship.
DeChambeau tees off Saturday at 9:30 a.m. CT alongside Sam Burns in the third-to-last group.
