Brandel Chamblee makes feelings crystal clear on Bryson DeChambeau's Open penalty

Brandel Chamblee believes the R&A made the correct call in handing Bryson DeChambeau a two-shot penalty during the second round of the 154th Open Championship, with fellow Golf Channel analyst Paul McGinley also critical of the LIV Golf star's response to the incident.

The controversial ruling dominated discussion after Friday's play at Royal Birkdale, and Chamblee had little doubt the officials had correctly applied the Rules of Golf.

Brandel Chamblee believes Bryson DeChambeau deserved two-shot penalty

Speaking on Golf Channel, former PGA Tour winner Chamblee was asked whether DeChambeau's punishment was justified.

"I do. Incontrovertibly," said Chamblee. 

"He was in breach of Rule 8.1, which says your actions in any way cannot move, bend or break the area around your golf ball.

"You cannot improve the conditions affecting the stroke and it was clear that his actions were improving the conditions of his stroke."

Chamblee added: "He did everything but lay down behind it." 

Paul McGinley hits out at Bryson DeChambeau's actions

McGinley also agreed with the decision and suggested DeChambeau had only intensified the controversy by refusing to accept the ruling.

"I don't think Bryson is helping himself," said the former victorious European Ryder Cup captain.

The Irishman was also quick to reference DeChambeau's recent public disagreement with English golf legend Sir Nick Faldo over his links golf strategy. 

"He took umbrage against the comments that were made about him having no strategy," McGinley said. 

"Rather than taking the moral high ground and saying, 'I shot 78 in the first round of The Open last year and then came back with 65, 68 and 64 to finish in the top 10. I think I know what I'm doing on links golf courses.'

"As great as Nick Faldo is, they are my views. I think I know what I'm doing. I have a different strategy and approach to Open Championships than Nick Faldo.

"Doing that and going to the media with a smile on his face, he would have won the situation, but he did not take that.

"And he has made a bad situation worse here by not accepting the penalty with a bit of grace."

McGinley considers DeChambeau's actions around his ball in the rough inevitably invited scrutiny from officials.

"The problem Bryson's got, and this is for any player, not just Bryson, whether he likes it or not, is when you invite conjecture around the rules, sometimes you're going to get burnt," he added.

"He invited conjecture with the haphazard way in which he treated the grass around the ball."

DeChambeau would not confirm to reporters on Friday whether he still intends to compete in The Open. 

Watch Chamblee and McGinley talk more about DeChambeau's actions here: 

Why was Bryson DeChambeau assessed a two-shot penalty at The Open? 

DeChambeau's rules violation occurred on the par-4 5th during Friday's second round at Royal Birkdale.

After initially signing for a 66, R&A officials reviewed video footage and concluded DeChambeau had inadvertently improved the area of his intended swing by pressing down grass behind his ball in thick rough.

The ruling resulted in a two-shot penalty under Rule 8.1, turning a bogey five into a triple-bogey seven. 

As a result, DeChambeau's score changed from 66 to 68, dropping him from 7-under par and one shot off the lead to 5-under par and three behind 36-hole leader Lucas Herbert.

R&A verdict

R&A chief rules official Grant Moir stressed that intent was irrelevant in the application of the rule.

"Bryson has been assessed a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing and intended backswing while playing his second shot on the fifth hole," Moir explained.

"I'd like to emphasise that this rule applies regardless of whether there was any intention to improve the area, which was the situation in Bryson's case."

Team DeChambeau fuming with decision; Bryson hasn't ruled out WD 

Despite the explanation, DeChambeau's camp remains convinced the punishment was unjust.

Speaking to Fried Egg Golf's Kevin Van Valkenburg, DeChambeau's long-time agent Brett Falkoff said the two-time U.S. Open champion felt he had been "unfairly penalized" and would wait until Saturday morning before deciding whether to continue playing in The Open. 

"He's a big boy, he'll see how he feels," Falkoff said.

"He certainly feels he was unfairly penalized."

Falkoff also defended his client against any suggestion of wrongdoing.

"He's a lot of things. He's not a cheater."

DeChambeau is scheduled to play alongside Sam Burns in Saturday's third round at 3.30pm.