American punished for improving line of his swing Sanction moves DeChambeau out of second place Bryson DeChambeau’s ongoing participation in the Open Championship is in doubt after extraordinary scenes at the conclusion of the 32-year-old’s second round at Royal Birkdale. DeChambeau was handed a two-stroke penalty for improving the line of his swing in thick rough, and the scenario prompted a furious response from the American. The sanction shifted him out of second place and an initial position of one stroke behind the leader, Lucas Herbert.