Bryson DeChambeau has been slapped with a two-shot penalty following a rules committee investigation at The Open.
The two-time US Open champion was penalised for improving his lie on the fifth hole at Royal Birkdale.
DeChambeau sliced a wayward tee shot into the rough to the right of the fairway earlier in his round.
Having located his ball, he was deemed to have improved the lie of his backswing prior to playing his second shot.
He went on to card a bogey on the par-four fifth, which has since been amended to a triple-bogey seven.
The infringement did not come to light until he had finished for the day, however.
After a four-under par 66 on Friday, DeChambeau headed back to the fifth hole along with R&A officials to discuss the incident.
He could be seen becoming embroiled in a heated exchange as the threat of the penalty loomed.
DeChambeau ended his second round one-shot behind leader Lucas Herbert, who produced a record-equalling eight-under 62 to rise up the leaderboard.
The two-shot penalty has now dropped DeChambeau back to tied-fifth on five-under for the week.
R&A statement
In a statement, R&A referee Grant Moir explained the decision to hand out the penalty.
He said: “Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended backswing on the fifth hole when he was playing his second shot.”
DeChambeau was deemed to have broken rule 8.1 by improving the line of his backswing, despite not intending to do so.
It came after he had reportedly threatened not to play the rest of the tournament if hit with the punishment.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ coverage, Nick Dougherty explained: “We’re hearing there’s a fairly distraught Bryson DeChambeau down there.
“We have also heard some have been lip-reading and that Bryson DeChambeau mouthed that he might not even play tomorrow.”
DeChambeau reaction
However, DeChambeau remained coy as he addressed the assembled media having emerged from the recorders cabin.
He asked: “Are you guys having a great night? I’m having a great night.”
The world No.37 refused to answer when asked if he is playing on Saturday, though.
Instead, he replied: “I’m off to hit some balls,” before heading to the range.
DeChambeau has now seen his hopes of winning a third major affected as he is left three shots off the lead heading into the weekend.
His previous best performance at The Open came in 2022 at St. Andrews.
On that occasion, he finished tied-eighth, eight shots adrift of champion Cameron Smith.
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