Bryson DeChambeau has offered a fresh response after Rory McIlroy’s outspoken criticism of his conduct during the ongoing Open Championship controversy.
The LIV Golf star has been at the center of attention since receiving a two-shot penalty during the second round at Royal Birkdale after the R&A ruled that he had inadvertently improved the area of his intended swing on the fifth hole.
McIlroy was among the strongest critics of DeChambeau’s reaction, saying he believed the penalty was justified and suggesting the American had created unnecessary drama following the ruling.
When asked after his third round whether he had heard McIlroy’s comments, DeChambeau declined to engage with the criticism.
“I have not heard anything,” he said.
The brief response marked DeChambeau’s latest public comment regarding the controversy, following an earlier social media message in which he acknowledged his disappointment with the ruling.
“Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it,” DeChambeau wrote.
Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the penalty, the two-time U.S. Open champion has chosen not to respond directly to McIlroy’s remarks, instead keeping his focus on the tournament.
The R&A has continued to defend its decision, stating that Rule 8.1 applies even when a player unintentionally improves the conditions affecting a stroke.
With the controversy still dominating headlines, DeChambeau remains focused on chasing his first Open Championship title while the fallout from one of the week’s biggest talking points continues.