Bryson DeChambeau has addressed the controversial two-shot penalty that he believes cost him a chance at winning The Open. During his second round at Royal Birkdale, officials penalized him after reviewing footage that showed he had improved the area of his backswing by flattening some long grass on the fifth hole.

The penalty transformed his bogey into a triple-bogey seven, dropping him from outright second to fifth in the standings at the midway point of the tournament.

Despite contemplating withdrawal in protest, DeChambeau persevered and made it through to the weekend, breaking a streak of three consecutive missed cuts in majors and avoiding the so-called 'Bryson Slam' of missing all four in a season. He finished with rounds of 69 and 72, ultimately ending six shots behind winner Ryan Fox.

In a LIV Golf UK press conference, he stated:

"I made the cut. It was a good fight. I wish I'd have given it more on Saturday and Sunday, it felt like I could have. Besides the fifth, being three over on it, and the 11th, that's six shots. That's tied for the lead right there. Two holes and I'm right there for the Claret Jug."

World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler defended DeChambeau, asserting that he is "not a cheater," while Rory McIlroy criticized the incident as "performative" and expressed his discontent with DeChambeau's actions during the tournament, stating:

"I think a lot of it's performative. To hold the tournament hostage like that... I didn't feel like it was a great look."