DeChambeau Penalized as Herbert Leads Open at Royal Birkdale

The third round of The Open Championship is set to commence at Royal Birkdale with a unique narrative developing at the top of the leaderboard. While Lucas Herbert seized the lead with a historic 8-under 62 on Friday, the conversation surrounding the tournament remains dominated by the events involving Bryson DeChambeau.

Herbert enters Saturday’s play holding a two-stroke advantage over the field. His performance in the second round has positioned him as the leader in the final major of the season. However, he will be chasing headlines as much as the trophy, as the LIV Golf star DeChambeau finds himself amidst a controversy.

DeChambeau, who appeared to be mounting a serious charge after his first two rounds, was assessed a two-shot penalty following a discussion with R&A officials regarding the manipulation of his lie. The penalty dropped him from one shot off the lead to three shots back. Reports indicated a tense interaction where DeChambeau reportedly considered withdrawing, though he has since confirmed he will continue in the event. Despite the setback, he remains the most prominent figure near the top of the standings as he attempts to bounce back from missing the cut in the previous three majors.

For viewers, the broadcast coverage will be carried by Comcast Corporation properties. NBC and Peacock will provide the primary window for live action on Saturday, airing from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. ET, following an early morning window on USA Network. Comcast stock was down 1.37% in recent trading.

Notable Saturday Tee Times (ET)

• 10:00 a.m.: Alex Fitzpatrick, Robert MacIntyre
• 10:10 a.m.: Thomas Detry, Bud Cauley
• 10:20 a.m.: Matt Wallace, Si Woo Kim
• 10:30 a.m.: Bryson DeChambeau, Sam Burns
• 10:40 a.m.: Ryan Gerard, Cameron Young
• 10:50 a.m.: Jackson Suber, Lucas Herbert

What to watch

• Whether Bryson DeChambeau can make up ground on the leaders during the third round.
• Lucas Herbert’s ability to maintain his two-shot lead through Moving Day.
• Audience viewership figures on the NBC and Peacock platforms.

Source: original release