Bryson DeChambeau’s hopes of winning The Open took a major hit, but the LIV Golf star isn’t backing down. Instead, he’s issued a defiant response after a controversial two-shot penalty sparked one of the biggest talking points of the championship.
According to Golf.com, DeChambeau posted a bold message on social media after being penalised during the second round at Royal Birkdale, insisting the incident would only fuel his determination moving forward.
The controversy centred on the par-4 fifth hole.
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DeChambeau was found to have breached Rule 8.1 after officials ruled he had improved the area of his intended swing by trampling long grass near his ball. The penalty added two shots to his score, turning an impressive 66 into a 68 and leaving him further behind the tournament leaders.
Rather than dwell on the ruling, DeChambeau embraced it.
According to Golf.com, the two-time U.S. Open champion shared a message on Instagram declaring the penalty would only motivate him, writing that the incident “fires me up” as he looked ahead to the weekend.
The ruling immediately divided opinion across the golfing world.
Many fans believed the punishment was harsh given there was no suggestion DeChambeau intentionally attempted to improve his lie, while others argued officials simply applied the Rules of Golf as written. The debate quickly spread across social media and television coverage as viewers questioned whether greater discretion should be used in similar situations.
The R&A stood by the decision.
Officials determined video evidence showed the grass behind DeChambeau’s ball had been altered before he played the shot, resulting in the automatic two-stroke penalty under Rule 8.1. While the decision proved costly, it did not end his tournament, with DeChambeau vowing to continue fighting over the weekend.
Although DeChambeau ultimately finished outside contention, the incident remained one of the defining moments of the 2026 Open Championship.
As Golf.com noted, his response may have been just as memorable as the penalty itself—turning frustration into motivation and ensuring the controversy remains one of the biggest talking points from Royal Birkdale.
