SOUTHPORT, United Kingdom - Rory McIlroy said on July 18 that Bryson DeChambeau tried to hold the British Open “hostage” and was begging for attention after the American reacted angrily to being given a two-shot penalty.

DeChambeau thought he had climbed to within one shot of the lead with a birdie-birdie finish to his second round on July 17.

But with dark descending on the Southport links, the American was handed a two-stroke penalty for “inadvertently improving” his lie as he addressed his second shot at the fifth hole.

DeChambeau appeared to trample down long grass as he addressed his ball for a practice swing.

The two-time US Open champion travelled back to the site of the incident with a rules official after completing his round and Sky Sports reported he had even threatened to withdraw from the tournament.

As a result there was a delay in the publication of tee times on July 18 for the rest of the field.

“I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention,” said McIlroy.

“To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”

Tournament organisers the R&A stressed they did not believe DeChambeau had deliberately cheated but said “even when the action is accidental”, a penalty is applied.

“I was watching it live. I was up in the players lounge watching it with a few other players and as soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other, and we were like, ‘that didn’t seem right’,” added McIlroy.