Welcome to Earl's Golf Blog
July 18, 2026
Bryson and the rules controversy
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Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty during the second round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale for improving his lie. In a major championship, where every stroke matters, the R&A does not issue a penalty of this magnitude without carefully reviewing the evidence. Penalizing one of the game's marquee players while he is in contention is a serious decision.
Every knowledgeable golfer understands that improving a lie or altering the conditions affecting a stroke is prohibited. Bryson certainly knows that. Throughout his professional career, he has never developed a reputation for intentionally skirting the Rules of Golf. Whether the act was intentional or accidental, however, the video evidence clearly showed that he improved his lie. Under the Rules, the penalty was appropriate. Given the facts, the best response is to accept the ruling and move on. Instead, Bryson was visibly upset and passionately argued his case. He had every right to do so. But according to reports from lip readers, he told officials that if they imposed the two-stroke penalty, he would withdraw from the championship. That's childish and immature. It's difficult to imagine Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods, or Scottie Scheffler making such a statement to a rules official.
DeChambeau has long been one of golf's polarizing figures. To his credit, he has worked to reshape his public image, and many fans appreciate his unconventional, aggressive approach to the game. Yet he has also shown that he doesn't mind being the center of attention. His handling of this incident raises questions about how much that image has truly changed.
After the ruling, DeChambeau declined to speak with reporters and television crews, choosing instead to hit balls on the practice range to cool off. He later released a brief statement: "Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don't agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let's get it." It will be interesting to see how the British galleries respond when Bryson tees off this weekend. My own opinion of him has declined and disappointed. While I wish him no ill will, I won't be rooting for him.
It's unfortunate that Friday's story became the controversy surrounding DeChambeau rather than the remarkable rounds of 62 by Sam Burns and Lucas Herbert. Those performances deserved to be the headlines. Hopefully, the 154th Open Championship will ultimately be remembered for great golf rather than one rules controversy.
