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SOUTHPORT, England — Rory McIlroy was not a fan of Bryson DeChambeau’s Friday actions at the Open.
Following completion of his second round at Royal Birkdale, R&A officials informed DeChambeau that video footage showed he improved his path swing by trampling down fescue at the fifth hole. DeChambeau argued his case to no avail and was ultimately hit with a two-shot penalty, leading DeChambeau to threaten to withdraw from the event while hitting balls deep into the Southport night.
DeChambeau ultimately teed it up on Saturday. Players from the early wave were asked about the penalty and DeChambeau’s actions that led to it, with most couching their responses. McIlroy, however, let it fly after shooting a one-under 69 and lamenting not making more of a move up the leaderboard before being asked about DeChambeau.
“I was watching it live. I was up in the players' lounge watching it with a few other players, and as soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other, and we were like, that didn't seem right,” McIlroy said. “Then when I heard that he was called in by the rules officials, I think we all … it was pretty obvious for why.
“I think there's no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing. Again, it's like, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don't think it matters. Hopefully it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified for sure.”
As Golf Digest detailed, the scenes following the R&A’s decision Friday night bordered on the surreal. McIlroy was watching from home, and was not a fan of what he was seeing.
“Yeah, look, I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it's performative. I think a lot of it's for attention,” McIlroy said. “To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn't feel like it was a great look.”
When asked if McIlroy thought DeChambeau knew what he was doing, McIlroy responded, “I'm not in his mind. I'm not in his … but it didn't look good.”
DeChambeau and McIlroy don’t have the best of relationships. Some of that stems from DeChambeau’s decision to defect to LIV Golf, a Saudi soft-power league that McIlroy has been critical of, while McIlroy served as the de facto face of the PGA Tour. DeChambeau also complained last year that McIlroy iced him out during last year’s final round of the Masters.
• • •
Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. But since many United States golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open, and search news around the event accordingly, Golf Digest continues to utilize both names in its coverage.
• • •
MORE GOLF DIGEST BRITISH OPEN COVERAGE
British Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the British Open on TV and streaming
Tee times for Saturday's third round
Video: The craziest 29 minutes in British Open history
Power Rankings: Every player in the field at Royal Birkdale
The Open keeps growing, but does it come at the price of tradition?
Video: Every hole at Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale demands these five shots. Here’s how pros practice them
How does a golf course earn ‘Royal’ status?
The best British Opens, ranked
The decision every pro face as they stand on the tee at Birkdale
Continue reading...
Following completion of his second round at Royal Birkdale, R&A officials informed DeChambeau that video footage showed he improved his path swing by trampling down fescue at the fifth hole. DeChambeau argued his case to no avail and was ultimately hit with a two-shot penalty, leading DeChambeau to threaten to withdraw from the event while hitting balls deep into the Southport night.
DeChambeau ultimately teed it up on Saturday. Players from the early wave were asked about the penalty and DeChambeau’s actions that led to it, with most couching their responses. McIlroy, however, let it fly after shooting a one-under 69 and lamenting not making more of a move up the leaderboard before being asked about DeChambeau.
“I was watching it live. I was up in the players' lounge watching it with a few other players, and as soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other, and we were like, that didn't seem right,” McIlroy said. “Then when I heard that he was called in by the rules officials, I think we all … it was pretty obvious for why.
“I think there's no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing. Again, it's like, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don't think it matters. Hopefully it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified for sure.”
As Golf Digest detailed, the scenes following the R&A’s decision Friday night bordered on the surreal. McIlroy was watching from home, and was not a fan of what he was seeing.
“Yeah, look, I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it's performative. I think a lot of it's for attention,” McIlroy said. “To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn't feel like it was a great look.”
When asked if McIlroy thought DeChambeau knew what he was doing, McIlroy responded, “I'm not in his mind. I'm not in his … but it didn't look good.”
DeChambeau and McIlroy don’t have the best of relationships. Some of that stems from DeChambeau’s decision to defect to LIV Golf, a Saudi soft-power league that McIlroy has been critical of, while McIlroy served as the de facto face of the PGA Tour. DeChambeau also complained last year that McIlroy iced him out during last year’s final round of the Masters.
• • •
Is it the British Open or the Open Championship? The name of the final men’s major of the golf season is a subject of continued discussion. The event’s official name, as explained in this op-ed by former R&A chairman Ian Pattinson, is the Open Championship. But since many United States golf fans continue to refer to it as the British Open, and search news around the event accordingly, Golf Digest continues to utilize both names in its coverage.
• • •
MORE GOLF DIGEST BRITISH OPEN COVERAGE
British Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the British Open on TV and streaming
Tee times for Saturday's third round
Video: The craziest 29 minutes in British Open history
Power Rankings: Every player in the field at Royal Birkdale
The Open keeps growing, but does it come at the price of tradition?
Video: Every hole at Royal Birkdale
Royal Birkdale demands these five shots. Here’s how pros practice them
How does a golf course earn ‘Royal’ status?
The best British Opens, ranked
The decision every pro face as they stand on the tee at Birkdale
Continue reading...
