Bryson DeChambeau believes his two-shot penalty cost him the chance of winning The Open Championship.

On the fifth hole of his second round at Royal Birkdale, DeChambeau was penalised for improving the area of his backswing by flattening some long grass.

What would have been a bogey for the 32-year-old ended up being a triple-bogey, seeing him drop from second on the leaderboard to fifth.

Despite threatening to withdraw from the tournament, DeChambeau made the cut for the first time at a major this year and finished six shots behind eventual winner Ryan Fox.

DeChambeau received criticism from Rory McIlroy for his behaviour in the second round, though Scottie Scheffler came to his compatriot's defence.

In the end, DeChambeau was left wondering what could have been if he had not received the penalty.

"I made the cut," DeChambeau told a LIV Golf UK press conference.

"It was a good fight. I wish I'd have given it more on Saturday and Sunday, it felt like I could have.

The final leaderboard of The 154th Open. pic.twitter.com/4iICVyeToR

— The Open (@TheOpen) July 19, 2026

"Besides the fifth, being three over on it, and the 11th, that's six shots. That's tied for the lead right there.

"Two holes and I'm right there for the Claret Jug."

DeChambeau has never won The Open, with his best finish coming in 2022 at tied-eighth.

He has won two majors during his career, with both wins coming at the US Open (2020 and 2024).