\u201cAs soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other, and we were like, that didn’t seem right,\u201d McIlroy said on Saturday after shooting a 1-under 69. \u201cThen when I heard that he was called in by the rules officials, I think we all \u2013 it was pretty obvious for why.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I think there’s no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing. Again, it’s like, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don’t think it matters. Hopefully it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Bryson](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/90966546007-getty-images-2210111107.jpg\")
McIlroy and DeChambeau have been become fierce rivals, with DeChambeau edging the Northern Irishman at the 2024 U.S. Open and McIlroy getting revenge when they were paired together in the final round at the 2025 Masters, where McIlroy completed the career Grand Slam. During the peak of the civil war between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, they also were the unofficial spokesman for their rival sides.<\/p>\n
MORE: Live updates from Saturday’s third round of The Open<\/a>Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n The R&A docked DeChambeau two strokes in violation of Rule 8.1 for improving his intended backswing. But first there was a lengthy meeting of the minds both in the scoring trailer and then a trip back to the scene of the crime to the penalty area at the fifth hole, where DeChambeau\u2019s tee shot went astray. One of the unintended consequences of hearing out DeChambeau in an animated conversation was a delay to the release of the tee times for the final round. Justin Thomas even asked on social media if they could hurry up and release them.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cLate night for everyone,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cYeah, look, I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention. To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.\u201d<\/p>\n McIlroy expressed understanding that every shot for DeChambeau and several players such as himself are captured on camera while there are many players that aren\u2019t constantly having their every move aired live. That goes with the territory of being a star and those players are compensated handsomely for the TV time they generate.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou can say that that’s unfair or whatever, or it might happen more than it does. It’s obviously impossible to police everyone, and that’s why it is, for the most part, a self-policing game,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cI think when there is obvious evidence like there was last night, then obviously that’s a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n On Friday night, DeChambeau declined to speak to the media after a round at a major for the sixth straight time and proceeded to hit balls at the range for nearly an hour. None of it sat well with McIlroy, the world No. 2 and reigning Masters champion. Asked if he thought DeChambeau knew what he was doing, McIlroy said, \u201cAgain, I’m not in his mind. But it didn’t look good.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784844097_635_84419815007-11111.jpg\")