Bryson DeChambeau confirms he will play in The Open despite penalty

Bryson DeChambeau has confirmed his participation in the third round of The Open Championship, ending a period of intense uncertainty that followed a controversial two-stroke penalty assessed after his second round on Friday, July 17, 2026. The 32-year-old will now look to close a three-stroke gap on tournament leader Lucas Herbert as play continues on Saturday.

The situation began shortly after DeChambeau completed his second round with a score of 66. While in the scoring tent, he was informed that R&A officials had reviewed footage from the fifth hole, where the American had been playing from thick fescue. Officials alleged that DeChambeau had trampled down grass in the area behind his ball, effectively improving the conditions for his backswing. This action violated Rule 8.1, which requires players to "play the course as you find it" and prohibits the moving, bending, or breaking of natural objects to improve an intended swing path.

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Grant Moir, the executive director of governance for the R&A, later confirmed that the penalty was applied even though the infraction was deemed accidental. "Ruling 1 restricts what a player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke and this includes the area of the player's intended swing," Moir stated. "A player must take the least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation and is not entitled to a normal stance or swing."

The ruling transformed DeChambeau’s bogey on the fifth hole into a triple-bogey seven, revising his second-round score from 66 to 68. Consequently, his position in the tournament standings shifted from sole possession of second place to a tie for fifth at five-under par. DeChambeau, visibly agitated, insisted on being driven back to the fifth hole by cart to demonstrate to officials that his actions had not provided a competitive advantage.

The uncertainty regarding his status lasted until after midnight on Friday. DeChambeau eventually took to social media to signal his intent to compete. "Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is," he wrote. "This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it."

This drama at Royal Birkdale occurred amidst an already record-setting leaderboard. Australia’s Lucas Herbert recorded a 62 during his second round, tying the lowest score ever shot in a major championship. Other players, including Jon Rahm, also faced disciplinary scrutiny on Friday; Rahm received a conduct warning for throwing a club on the 15th tee.

DeChambeau’s resilience in the face of the ruling marks a continuation of a challenging season for the LIV Golf participant, who had missed the cut in each of the first three majors of 2026. Despite the off-course tension, which included a late-night practice session at the range lasting until approximately 10:30 p.m., DeChambeau remains in the mix with other contenders. He is currently tied with Sam Burns and Kim Si-woo.

What to Watch Next

• Leaderboard Positioning: Herbert leads the field, but a crowded leaderboard ensures the competition remains tight.
• Rule Application: The R&A’s firm stance on Rule 8.1a is likely to remain a topic of discussion among players and analysts throughout the weekend, particularly regarding the use of television replays to identify accidental violations.

As the tournament progresses, the focus will return to the links of Southport, where DeChambeau, despite the "chaotic circumstance" surrounding his second round, maintains a live opportunity to challenge for the Claret Jug.