US OPEN fans think Bryson DeChambeau should be harshly disqualified after a rules mix up.
Last year’s champion got off to a nightmare start at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania today.
On the 621-yard fourth hole, his second shot landed in a group spectators making their way across the course.
As the ball could have been interfered with, he was granted relief that allowed him to drop the ball within an area of the fairway that the referee deemed fair.
DeChambeau told his caddie to pick the ball up as he worked out where best to play from.
But in an unusual U-turn, the world No10 decided he was happy with where the ball originally landed.
Though the referee informed him that because he picked it up, he would now have to move it back up the fairway or get hit with a penalty.
DeChambeau found a place that was OK and asked: “This is probably closest right ma’am?”
But amid the confusion, he appeared to forget the rules by PLACING it on the floor instead of a drop.
The American, who had got himself into a real muddle, muttered “that was dumb” as the official intervened again.
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DeChambeau’s error was not punished and he was allowed a second chance at dropping the ball correctly.
Some fans called for brutal action, with one saying: “Should be penalty strokes.”
Another wrote: “Penalty DQ now.”
A third commented: “He should be penalised others would have.”
But others disagreed, saying: “It’s obvious it wasn’t intentional.”
A second added: “The ball was not in play. He corrected the mistake, if he hit the placed ball different story.”
Sky Sports commentator Tony Johnstone reacted: “That’s a first. In 45 years as a pro I’ve never seen a professional take a free drop and PLACE the ball by mistake. How strange.”
