Bryson DeChambeau got a strange two-shot penalty at The Open because of a little-known rule.

Bryson DeChambeau got a strange two-shot penalty at The Open because of a little-known rule.

Bryson DeChambeau’s big climb up the Open leaderboard on day two suddenly stopped when he got hit with a two-stroke penalty.

The real stars of the day were Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns, who both shot an amazing 62, tying a record only four others have achieved—including Brandon Grace, Rickie Fowler, Xander Schauffele, and Shane Lowry. Herbert’s great round put him at the top of the leaderboard after round two. The 30-year-old is now two shots ahead of Cameron Young, Ryan Gerard, and Jackson Suber.

DeChambeau was close behind Herbert after shooting four under par, just one shot off the lead. But then, on the fifth hole, he got a two-stroke penalty for accidentally stepping on some long grass near his ball, which improved his lie. This turned what could have been a bogey into a triple-bogey seven.

DeChambeau insisted he didn’t mean to break any rules, but the R&A stuck with the call. They explained, “Bryson was penalized two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended back swing on the fifth hole.” They added that even if it seemed unintentional, the rules say a player can’t move or damage natural objects near the ball, as it gives an unfair advantage.

This penalty leaves DeChambeau three shots behind Herbert going into Saturday—a tough break for someone aiming for their first Open win. But the two-time major champion looks ready to forget the mistake and fight back in round three.

After the penalty, DeChambeau joked, “Are you guys having a great night? I’m having a great night.” Then he headed to the driving range, took a selfie with fans, and chatted with his team.

Before the tournament, three-time Open champ Nick Faldo criticized DeChambeau’s style, saying he has “zero strategy” for links golf. Faldo explained that links courses require careful, thoughtful shots, not just blasting the ball down the fairway. “You thread it, you feed it down,” Faldo said. “You don’t just hit it blindly.”

Now, after the penalty and Faldo’s comments, DeChambeau is sure to be fired up to prove everyone wrong and bounce back strong.