Bryson DeChambeau was embroiled in a rules controversy and hauled back out to the course after shooting a 66 which had catapulted him into second place in The Open at Royal Birkdale.
The allegation levelled at the two-time major champion was that he had improved his stance as he attempted to escape from deep rough on the fifth hole.
DeChambeau had produced a brilliant birdie-birdie finish which he thought had put him in the final group for Saturday on seven under par.
However, moments after signing his card he was informed there were issues with how he played the driveable par-four fifth and was taken out to the spot of the alleged infringement while the later finishers were still out on the course.
The suggestion appeared to be that having carved his drive wide right over the pond into rough he had trampled down some high grass which allowed him a better angle to hit his ball.
After several minutes of animated discussion, which involved the 32-year-old – club in hand – attempting to show R&A officials how he had played the shot, the two-time US Open champion was driven back to the recorders’ office with a face like thunder where further discussions were held.
DeChambeau made bogey on the hole but was at risk of incurring a two-stroke penalty, which would mean his round being adjusted to a 68 and dropping him into a share of fifth.
That was three behind leader Lucas Herbert, whose brilliance in equalling the lowest round in a major with a 62, lifted him to eight under.
Incredibly his feat was matched about 20 minutes later by American Sam Burns, whose own remarkable round got him to five under, one worse than first-round leader Jackson Suber (69), Cameron Young (67) and Ryan Gerard (67).
