Scottie Scheffler has "a ton to say" on Bryson DeChambeau penalty at The Open

Scottie Scheffler has revealed he has "a ton to say" about Bryson DeChambeau's controversial two-shot penalty at The Open – but insists now is not the time to share his thoughts.

Scheffler addressed the media after his third round at Royal Birkdale, less than 24 hours after DeChambeau was docked two shots following an R&A ruling that he had inadvertently improved the area of his intended swing on the par-4 5th during Friday's second round.

The World No.1 and defending Open champion was paired alongside DeChambeau on Thursday and Friday, and admitted he has strong opinions on the incident, but chose to keep them to himself while the championship is still ongoing.

"I was out practising. I was playing with him yesterday. I don't really have a ton to say on it," Scheffler told reporters Saturday night at Royal Birkdale. 

"Actually, I do have a ton to say. I haven't decided exactly what I want to say publicly yet.

"I do have some thoughts. I just don't really feel like now is the time or place for me to comment. 

"We're in the middle of a tournament, and I'm focused on what I need to do. I need to go out tomorrow and shoot a low round. I'm not really going to expand on it too much."

Asked whether he might address the incident after The Open, Scheffler again stopped short of offering his opinion.

"I don't know. It's just a tough situation, I think," he said.

"Like I said, I have a decent amount of thoughts, but probably nothing that I'm concerned with right now.

"I just feel like it's not a road I want to go down today. I have a tournament to focus on, and I'm going to go hit a few balls and hit a few putts. It's my job to go out there and shoot a low round tomorrow. Anything outside of that is outside my control."

Watch Scheffler's reaction here: 

Scheffler's measured response was widely praised by golf fans, with many applauding his decision to avoid adding fuel to one of the biggest talking points of the championship.

The controversy erupted after R&A officials ruled DeChambeau had inadvertently improved the area of his intended swing.by trampling long grass near his ball on the 5th hole during his second round.

The LIV Golf star was not informed of the potential breach until after he completed his round. 

Before signing his scorecard, he was taken back to the 5th hole to review the incident with officials (watch below) before returning to the recorder's area for further discussions.

More than an hour after finishing his round, the R&A eventually confirmed DeChambeau had been assessed a two-shot penalty, changing his score from 66 to 68.

The penalty dropped the two-time U.S. Open champion to 5-under par, three shots off the lead heading into the weekend. 

To his credit, DeChambeau responded impressively on Saturday, carding a 69 to move to 6-under par, and he heads into the final round four shots behind leader Sam Burns as he continues his bid for a maiden Claret Jug.

But without the two-shot penalty, DeChambeau would have started Sunday's final round tied for second.

DeChambeau's agent, Brett Falkoff, said late on Friday that the American felt "unfairly penalized" by the ruling.

The incident has very much divided opinion with players, analysts and fans this weekend at the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. 

While a number of players have defended DeChambeau, others have been highly critical, none more so than Rory McIlroy who said he was "not particularly fond" of the American, especially the way in which he handled the situation. 

McIlroy also believed DeChambeau's behaviour when learning of his two-shot penalty was "performative".

Golf Channel analysts Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley, as well as three-time Open champion Sir Nick Faldo are also of the belief that the R&A handled the situation perfectly and that a two-shot penalty was the only outcome following DeChambeau's actions in the rough. 

Watch McIlroy's reaction here: 

Scheffler, meanwhile, was unable to mount a charge during the third round. 

The four-time major champion continued to struggle on the greens and carded a level-par 70 to remain at 4-under par, leaving him six shots behind his close friend Burns.

Scheffler will now need a spectacular final-round performance if he is to become the first player since Padraig Harrington at Royal Birkdale in 2008 to successfully defend the Claret Jug.