Bryson DeChambeau was sensationally handed a two-shot penalty after a controversial rules breach during his second round at The Open at Royal Birkdale. DeChambeau had appeared to be within a shot of the halfway lead after a strong finish to his round, but was called to speak with rules officials afterward.

The penalty stemmed from an incident on the par-four fifth hole, where DeChambeau was adjudged to have improved his lie in thick grass. Footage showed DeChambeau passionately pleading his innocence in a heated exchange with officials before being penalized under rule 8.1 of the rules of golf. His bogey on the hole was consequently changed to a triple-bogey seven.

In a statement, R&A Referee Grant Moir confirmed that DeChambeau was penalized two strokes for "inadvertently improving the area of his intended backswing." This penalty dropped DeChambeau from seven under par to five under par, placing him three strokes behind Lucas Herbert, who was among the players to card a second-round 62.