Check in to GOLF’s Tour Confidential every Sunday night for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport. This week, with The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, we’ll hit one key topic each night.
The R&A assessed Bryson DeChambeau a two-shot penalty after his second round at the Open for “inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing” on the fifth hole. DeChambeau pleaded his case but ultimately was docked two shots, dropping him from solo second to a tie for fifth. Should Bryson have been penalized? And is there anything Bryson could have done to change their minds? What do you think of his reaction and where does he go from here?
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): Judging by the footage I’ve seen, I think Bryson deserves the benefit of the doubt. It doesn’t appear as though he was intentionally stomping around, clearing grass away behind the ball or really “improving” his lie in any way. To me, it looked like Bryson handled this shot like any other pro. His reaction to the penalty, though extreme if he follows through on not playing in protest, makes sense: He feels like he’s been dealt an injustice — and a black mark on his character — and is responding accordingly. I can’t say I blame him for his feelings, but I hope he will play and try to win this tournament anyway.
As an aside, I have to say that I also find this intense analysis of lies and player behavior in the milliseconds before a shot is hit to be sort of annoying. Golf is supposed to be a game of personal integrity, and taking a microscope to alleged infractions like this — where it’s nearly impossible for us at home to tell what happened, and when hours have passed since the initial incident and there’s plenty of room for doubt — seems like a disservice all around.
Jake Morrow, gear content manager (@madefortherange): It shouldn’t have even been a discussion. The lie itself was never improved. Bryson stepped in and around to find/spot the ball, stepped behind the ball to see his line (like you do on any normal shot), and never made any egregious attempt to stomp on grass or to purposely create a path. The footage doesn’t show the ball directly, but the area around where he hit the shot was never changed. Curious what they thought going over to the spot was going to do. They had clearly made up their minds before they went over there. Hoping it serves as motivation for the weekend. It’s a bold strategy; we’ll see if it pays off.
The idea that a player going through his normal pre-shot routine with his caddie can result in a penalty is crazy. It’s even crazier to then be told numerous times throughout the conversation that they acknowledge that it was accidental. So they admit he didn’t purposely do anything, but they still throw the penalty? How? The real question here is what exactly would they have liked him to do instead? Have his caddie hold him up on his shoulders above the ball so he can see? All this being said, he needs to play the weekend and fight to win. If he announces tomorrow that he isn’t going to play, I’ll happily switch sides of my Bryson love/hate position right now.
Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): I’m all for giving DeChambeau the benefit of the doubt on his intent. But rules are rules, and it seems pretty clear from the video that he stepped on the tall grass behind his ball, making it easier to execute the backswing. Bryson’s reaction seemed perfectly reasonable at the moment. He was understandably upset. But saying that he now might not play the weekend? That’s juvenile, taking-my-ball-and-going-home schoolyard stuff. The proper response from DeChambeau would be—I think you guys got this one wildly wrong, and I’m going to win anyway.
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Yes, DeChambeau should have been penalized, based on what the R&A has described about what happened in FescueGate. “Bryson has been penalized two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing, so intended backswing on the 5th hole when he was playing his second shot,” said Grant Moir, the R&A executive director, governance. The question is: what video did officials look at? The footage on USA Network did not show the ball, so, at least to viewers, it was unclear what “the area of his intended swing” was. I’d also be interested to hear what DeChambeau has to say, of course. Maybe that’s coming Saturday. Maybe. At the very least, all of this is very, very interesting.
Dylan Dethier, senior writer (@dylan_dethier): I think I just have one question for the R&A, because this is a massive decision at a massive moment in a sport where the participants have traditionally called their own fouls and the evidence seems something less than conclusive …
Are you sure?
Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@schrock_and_awe): I’m with Nick. By the letter of the law in Rule 8.1a, Bryson did make an infraction. You’re not allowed to “move, bend or break any natural growing object” in a way that might improve the area of your intended swing (backswing, downswing or completion of the stroke), be it intentional or not. It’s a big call by the R&A, but as a steward of the game, I think it made the right call to protect the sport and the field. These penalties should be called more on the PGA Tour, but they aren’t. Bryson broke the rule as it is written. I understand his frustration and his argument, but the rule is the rule. I will say that his threat not to play the remainder of the tournament is ridiculous and hollow. He’s going to play. It’s a major and he’s three shots off the lead. It’s very much something kids do when they threaten not to do something, hoping the threat of their absence will change hearts and minds. Just tee it up and go try and win your third major.
