New Delhi, July 18 -- SOUTHPORT - An hour after Bryson DeChambeau signed his scorecard at Royal Birkdale, the number next to his name changed.

The R&A ruled Friday that DeChambeau had breached Rule 8.1 during the second round of The Open Championship, inadvertently stepping on long fescue grass at the fifth hole and improving the area of his intended backswing. Two penalty strokes were assessed once officials completed their review. What had been a round of 66, four under par, with DeChambeau in sole second place one shot off the lead, became a 68 when those strokes were added. His tournament total fell from seven under to five under par. Three players moved past him in the standings.

"Bryson has been penalized two strokes for inadverte...