Kevin Kisner reveals what R&A official admitted to him after Bryson DeChambeau incident at The Open, 'total chaos' - hitc.com

What the report says

HITC reported that Kevin Kisner, now working as an NBC on-course commentator and analyst, criticized the handling of Bryson DeChambeau’s two-stroke penalty during The Open at Royal Birkdale. The incident occurred in Friday’s second round on the fifth hole, where DeChambeau’s ball was in thick rough. Tournament officials later ruled that he breached Rule 8.1a by improving the area behind the ball while moving through the grass.

Speaking on the Fore Play Podcast, Kisner said he was following DeChambeau’s group during NBC’s coverage and believed the situation became difficult because the walking rules official was not close enough to manage it in real time. He said the available camera views did not conclusively show whether DeChambeau improved his intended swing, while acknowledging that DeChambeau’s movements in the rough did not look good.

Kisner also objected to penalties being applied after a round based on television footage, arguing that players who are not being closely filmed may not face the same scrutiny. According to HITC, Kisner said he asked the R&A whether the walking official had contacted rules staff during the incident and was told the official had not radioed in.

The ruling mattered because it affected the score of one of golf’s most prominent players at a major championship. HITC noted DeChambeau, a LIV Golf player, was upset by the decision but continued in the tournament on Saturday.