Bryson DeChambeau says a two-shot penalty and trouble on two holes kept him from having a legitimate shot at winning the Open Championship last weekend.
The 32-year-old made the remarks after wrapping up his opening round at LIV Golf United Kingdom, reflecting on his 68 he shot last Friday at Royal Birkdale during The Open.
The penalty came down following DeChambeau’s second round at the Open Championship in Southport, England. R&A rules officials ruled that he had taken steps to improve what they described as “the area of his intended swing” on a shot that had occurred 13 holes earlier.
DeChambeau had originally carded a 4-under 66, which put him at 7 under par — just one stroke behind Australia’s Lucas Herbert. However, instead of entering Saturday’s third round in second place alongside Herbert in the final pairing, the penalty changed his score on the fifth hole from a bogey 5 to a triple-bogey 7, leaving him three shots off the lead rather than one.
He wrapped up the tournament tied for 14th place at 4-under-par, finishing six strokes behind New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, who claimed the title.
“Yeah, I made the cut. No, it was a good fight,” DeChambeau said. “I wish I would have given it more on Saturday and Sunday. Felt like I could have. Besides the fifth hole and being 3-over on that hole and then the 11th hole (triple bogey in the final round), that’s six shots. That’s tied for the lead right there. That’s two holes and I’m right there with the Claret Jug.”
DeChambeau turned down interview requests following each of his last three rounds at The Open.
The Open was the only major championship in 2026 where DeChambeau made the cut. His two major titles came at the U.S. Open in 2020 and 2024.
