I watched it live and didn't think much of it until after the round when the R&A took him back out.
He didn't beat the grass down. He made a step behind the ball, and it was right at the base of the fescue clump. Didn't look intentional at all, but it doesn't have to be intentional. He improved his lie, plan and simple. However, in typical Bryson fashion he acted the way he did.