Open 2026: Rory McIlroy accuses Bryson DeChambeau of holding tournament ‘hostage’
Rory McIlroy accused Bryson DeChambeau of holding the Open Championship “hostage” during dramatic scenes at Royal Birkdale on Friday evening.
DeChambeau was penalized two strokes in the second round for “inadvertently developing his lie” before making his second shot in the fifth.
The two-time US Open champion was involved in heated and lengthy discussions with R&R rules officials before the penalty was imposed, leaving him three points clear of the tournament with a lead of less than five points.
World number two McIlroy, who lost the 2024 US Open title to DeChambeau, said: “There is no doubt that he has improved his backstroke line.”
“Whether it was careless or intentional, I don’t think it matters. I hope it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was absolutely justified.”
Scenes of DeChambeau and tournament officials returning to the scene of the infraction after the round delayed the announcement of Saturday’s tee times.
“[It was a] It’s a late night for everyone,” McIlroy added.
“I’m not going to pretend to defend Bryson. I don’t really like him. I think a lot of it is performance. I think a lot of it is for attention.
“I didn’t think it was a great look, holding the tournament hostage like that and having all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting for it to go away.”
