There was to be no final-day heroic march towards the Claret Jug, not even a finish close enough to eventual winner Ryan Fox for his army of fans to claim he'd been robbed.

In astonishing scenes at Royal Birkdale on Friday, the American could be seen shouting animatedly at officials as they argued over whether he improved his lie on the fifth hole.

That Bryson DeChambeau has hit just 12 fairways in two days has had little negative impact, with the one notable exception.

The American was looking to make up lost ground on Saturday.