Bryson DeChambeau on Open: 'Right there with the Claret Jug' without penalty

Bryson DeChambeau admitted that he felt like he could have contended for the victory at the Open Championship last weekend if not for a two-shot penalty and a poor performance on one hole.

Speaking after completing the first round of the LIV Golf United Kingdom, DeChambeau's comments were in response to recording a 68 last Friday at Royal Birkdale.

DeChambeau was handed the penalty following his second round at the Open Championship in Southport, England, after R&A rules officials determined he had taken actions to improve "the area of his intended swing" on a shot 13 holes earlier.

A popular but divisive figure in the world of golf, the LIV Golf star originally posted a 4-under 66 to move to 7 under, one shot behind Australia's Lucas Herbert. But rather than waking up Saturday in second place and the final pairing for the third round, DeChambeau entered the weekend three behind Herbert instead of one, his bogey 5 at the fifth hole changed to a triple-bogey 7.

He finished the tournament tied for 14th place at 4-under-par, six strokes back of eventual winner Ryan Fox of New Zealand.

"Yeah, I made the cut. No, it was a good fight," DeChambeau said. "I wish I would have given it more on Saturday and Sunday. Felt like I could have. Besides the fifth hole and being 3-over on that hole and then the 11th hole (triple bogey in the final round), that's six shots. That's tied for the lead right there. That's two holes and I'm right there with the Claret Jug."

DeChambeau, 32, declined interview requests following his final three rounds at The Open.

The Open was the only major where DeChambeau made the cut in 2026. The LIV Golf star's two major victories came at the U.S. Open in 2020 and 2024.

--Field Level Media