While addressing reporters Friday for the first time since his polarizing performance at last week's Open Championship, Bryson DeChambeau lamented a pair of blowups that he believes cost him a legitimate chance at his third career major title.
"It was a good fight. I wish I would've given it more on Saturday and Sunday," he said, per GOLF.com. "Felt like I could have. Besides the fifth hole, being three over on that hole, and then the 11th hole, that's six shots. That's tied for the lead right there. That's two holes. Two holes and I'm right there with the Claret Jug."
DeChambeau finished the tournament 4-under par, six shots back of champion Ryan Fox. The LIV star became embroiled in a highly publicized rules controversy on the fifth hole in his second round, as the rules officials retroactively assessed him a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently improving his lie in the thick rough.
Video of an animated DeChambeau discussing the decision with the rules officials went viral. He threatened to sit out the remainder of the tournament after being penalized.
The 32-year-old ultimately decided to continue playing at Royal Birkdale and remained in the mix until carding a triple-bogey on the 11th hole during his final round. Although his penalty was the story of the tournament, DeChambeau insists he's moved on as LIV Golf stages its annual event in the United Kingdom.
"There's moments of adversity in everybody's life, and I was passionate about what I believed and thought was right," DeChambeau said. "For me, it's now in a place that it is what it is, and you keep moving through it. You keep moving past it."
DeChambeau's penalty drew the attention of the biggest names in golf. Rory McIlroy said the punishment was justified and that DeChambeau's actions were "performative," while Scottie Scheffler insisted his American Ryder Cup teammate is "definitely not a cheater."
