DeChambeau handed dramatic penalty in controversial Open ruling

Bryson DeChambeau has been sensationally handed a two-shot penalty after being involved in a controversial rules breach during his second round at The Open.

DeChambeau appeared to have moved within a shot of the halfway lead after following an opening-round 67 with a birdie-birdie finish to his four-under 66 at Royal Birkdale, only to be called to speak to rules officials after the conclusion of his round.

The two-time champion was adjudged to have improved his lie when stood in thick grass at the par-four fifth, having hit a wayward tee shot, with DeChambeau returning to the area with rules officials to review the incident.

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Extraordinary footage saw DeChambeau passionately plead his innocence in a heated exchange, only to be penalised under rule 8.1 of the rules of golf and see his bogey on that hole become a triple-bogey seven.

In a statement, R&A Referee Grant Moir 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."

It drops DeChambeau to a two-under 68 and from seven under to five under and three strokes behind Lucas Herbert, who was one of two players to equal the lowest round in men's major history with second-round 62s.

More to follow...