Max Homa defended Bryson DeChambeau after The R&A assessed a two-stroke penalty for improving his swing area on the fifth hole during The Open's second round. The penalty dropped DeChambeau from 7 under to 5 under. Homa, after shooting 3-under 67 in the third round, said he's known DeChambeau a long time and "he would never cheat the game of golf."

TV replays showed DeChambeau taking high steps in native grass, which appeared to flatten fescue behind his ball. The R&A's Grant Moir stated the rule applies even accidentally. DeChambeau wasn't informed until after finishing what he thought was a 4-under 66, one stroke behind leader Lucas Herbert. He reenacted his swing and argued passionately, but his fifth-hole score changed from bogey 5 to triple-bogey 7.

Homa said he saw only one angle and didn't think DeChambeau intentionally improved his path. Russell Henley called it a "tough one," noting the disparity of TV coverage. Xander Schauffele said DeChambeau was "just stepping in how you'd normally step in" and called it a tough spot in high brush.