Bryson DeChambeau sits just three shots off Lucas Herbert's lead with a reasonable chance to make a run at the Open Championship this weekend.
That is, if he decides to tee it up.
After being hit with a two-shot penalty following his second round Friday, DeChambeau fell from solo second into a tie for fifth when his score changed from a 66 to a 68. The decision to penalize DeChambeau followed a heated discussion between the 32-year-old and the rules officials at the fifth hole, where the infraction occurred.
At the end the meeting, DeChambeau appeared to tell the rules officials, "I'm not playing tomorrow," which his agent later reiterated.
Bryson’s agent is saying Bryson is 100 percent serious that he is not sure he will play tomorrow. Plans to make the decision in the morning. “He’s a lot of things. He’s not a cheater.”
— Kevin Van Valkenburg (@KVanValkenburg) July 17, 2026
DeChambeau's penalty stemmed from a wayward drive on the short par-4 fifth. His ball came to rest in thick grass and weeds of the penalty area, leading to a provisional off the tee. However, the spotters shockingly located DeChambeau's ball, and he was able to hack it out across the green before saving a bogey.
Rules officials then deemed that he inadvertently improved his lie by trampling down tall grass behind his ball - a move that they determined aided his swing. Despite DeChambeau pleading his case, the penalty was eventually given just over an hour after his round concluded.
DeChambeau declined to speak to reporters after the round and instead went to the range to hit balls. Whether that practice is for Saturday's round remains to be seen.
