Bryson DeChambeau has been in the best form of this season at Royal Birkdale, but now there is a possibility he may leave the Open

Blazing Bryson DeChambeau came out swinging and threatened to pull out of the Open after R&A rules officials docked him two shots for cheating.

DeChambeau thought he had posted a sensational second round 66 to close to within just one shot of leader Lucas Herbert. But the controversial American was left seething when officials claimed he had improved his lie in long grass, close to where his ball had landed on the right side of the fifth hole, which he went on to bogey.

Replays showed him trampling down some knee high rough close to where his wayward tee shot had finished. DeChambeau had a face like thunder after being driven back to the scene of the incident.

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He could be seen arguing with officials, before appearing to tell them he would withdraw should he be penalised. The LIV Golf star then returned to one of the R&A offices to continue animated talks. He was the penalised two shots, which saw him drop into a tie for fifth place, three shots adrift of the lead. In the other majors, he failed to make the cut at the Masters, the PGA Championship and the US Open.

Referee Grant Moir said: "So Bryson has been penalised two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his swing, so his intended backswing, on the fifth hole when he was playing his second shot. Basically, I'm going to explain the technicalities of the rule here for you.

"Ruling 1 restricts what the player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke. And this includes the area of the player's intended swing. So an improvement means to alter one or more of the conditions affecting the stroke, so that the player gains a potential advantage for the stroke.

"Now I will stress that this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was in Bryson's case. The area of the intended swing includes the entire area that might reasonably affect the backswing, the downswing or the completion of the swing for the intended stroke. And, importantly, what the prohibited action here is, that the player mustn't move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object.

"A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance if, in some situations, that improves the conditions affecting the stroke. But when doing so, the player must take the least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation, and is not entitled to a normal stance or swing. I reiterate, this applies even when there's no intention to improve the area, as was the case with Bryson. That's all I have to say."

Following his round, DeChambeau was approached by a reporter who asked whether he would be teeing off tomorrow, but the LIV Golf star walked past without acknowledging the question. He was subsequently spotted striking balls at the Royal Birkdale driving range, as spectators and other golf fans awaited an official statement.

When his agent Brett Falkoff was quizzed on whether the star would compete tomorrow, he replied: "Let's see if he shows up late tomorrow afternoon, your guess is as good as mine."

Nevertheless, Dame Laura Davies remains unconvinced he will carry out his threat. She told Sky Sports : "They are questioning his integrity. He said he didn't do it. Whatever he thinks, I think he will play tomorrow even if he says he will not. Where is he supposed to put his feet?".

The penalty has caused him to tumble from T2 and just one stroke behind Herbert, all the way down to T5, where he now sits alongside Sam Burns and South Korean star Kim Si Woo on six-under.