Sam Burns Expresses Sympathy for Bryson DeChambeau After Controversial Penalty at the Open

When Bryson DeChambeau stepped off the 18th at Royal Birkdale on Friday, he was sitting at seven‑under par, just a single shot shy of the lead. A few minutes later the scoreboard told a different story – his total had slipped to five‑under after officials handed him a two‑stroke penalty for allegedly improving his swing by stomping on the grass near his ball.

Sam Burns, who was leading the Open Championship after 54 holes, watched the drama unfold from the nearby fairway. In post‑round interviews the 27‑year‑old didn’t hide his reaction.

"I honestly feel bad for Bryson in the situation he was in," Burns said, shaking his head. "From my perspective, I didn’t see enough evidence to justify a penalty like that. It just feels… unfair." He added a touch of the everyday‑guy vibe that makes his comments feel genuine, as if he were chatting with a teammate over a cold drink.

The American champion’s words weren’t just about the rules – they were about the human side of competition. "He played an incredible round yesterday, and then they come in after your round and dock you two shots. That’s a tough pill to swallow," Burns continued. "But props to him – he came out and played a really nice round today. It takes a lot of grit to do that, and I was impressed."

DeChambeau, never one to shrink from adversity, rallied on the final hole. After the penalty, he briefly climbed back to seven‑under before a closing bogey on No. 18 left him one‑under for the day, a 69, leaving him four shots behind Burns heading into Sunday’s final round.

Burns, meanwhile, maintained a two‑shot cushion at 11‑under, keeping the pressure on his rivals while quietly hoping the controversy would fade. The Open, already steeped in history, now carries an extra subplot about rule interpretation and the fine line between a legitimate swing and a calculated aid.

For fans watching the drama unfold, the episode adds a human element to an already tense major. Whether the penalty stands as a clear‑cut rule enforcement or a gray‑area decision, both players have shown a resilience that goes beyond numbers on a scorecard.