Golfer Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to contact President Donald Trump to intervene after receiving a two-stroke penalty at The Open Championship in England. The penalty, issued during the second round, reportedly caused DeChambeau to drop on the leaderboard.
The incident occurred on the par-4 fifth hole when DeChambeau’s drive landed in thick rough. Television footage showed him repeatedly stepping on grass and shuffling his feet behind his ball, which officials determined unintentionally improved the conditions for his stroke by flattening the terrain. This action led to a two-shot penalty, changing his score on the hole from a bogey 5 to a triple-bogey 7, and his second-round score from 66 to 68. The penalty reportedly moved him from one shot off the lead to three shots back.
Penalty and Reaction
DeChambeau reportedly protested the decision loudly, threatening to call Trump, whom he considers a close personal friend, if the penalty was not overturned. This threat was part of a strong argument against the ruling, which included a visit to the incident site with the tournament organizer’s head of governance and a senior referee.
Despite the reported threat, there is no evidence that DeChambeau contacted Trump, and tournament officials stated they did not hear from the president. The penalty was not retracted, and DeChambeau ultimately finished 14th in the tournament, which was described as his best major tournament finish this year.
After it became clear the penalty would stand, DeChambeau reportedly left media and fellow golfers waiting for two hours before announcing his decision to continue in the tournament. This delay reportedly pushed back the release of third-round tee times until nearly 11 p.m., with his announcement coming close to midnight.
Fellow golfer Rory McIlroy commented on the situation, stating, “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. 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.”
Scheffler’s Perspective
Scottie Scheffler, who played with DeChambeau in the second round, initially hesitated to comment on the penalty. He later offered his perspective, defending DeChambeau’s integrity while also suggesting a need for stricter rule enforcement.
Scheffler stated, “All I’ll say is Bryson – I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater. I’ve never seen him cheat once, whether we were having a putting contest on the putting green or chipping contest, or anytime we played amateur golf, I never saw anything suspicious.”
However, Scheffler also indicated that DeChambeau might have been “careless” with his steps. He explained, “When you’re watching him there from that camera angle, maybe he was a touch careless around his ball, but I don’t think he did anything intentionally.”
Scheffler further suggested that rules might need to be more strictly enforced, noting the increased scrutiny on players like DeChambeau due to constant camera coverage. He highlighted that distant camera angles can make situations appear different than they are up close. He also mentioned that players who are not under such intense scrutiny might be able to make minor adjustments to conditions around them without penalty.
Despite defending DeChambeau’s character, Scheffler concluded that there should be more enforcement of golf’s traditions and stricter policing moving forward. He reflected on how players sometimes push boundaries and suggested a return to stricter adherence to the rules of the game.
DeChambeau’s Connections and Career
DeChambeau has a long-standing friendship with Trump, which dates back to the early stages of his career. In 2020, Eric Trump hosted a party for DeChambeau at the Trump National Golf Club following DeChambeau’s victory in the U.S. Open. The two have played golf together at Trump-owned courses, and their relationship gained visibility in 2024 when they filmed a “Break 50” YouTube golf challenge at Trump National in Bedminster, a video that has garnered 17 million views.
DeChambeau has publicly described Trump as a friend, and Trump has complimented DeChambeau’s talent and personality. DeChambeau endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential election cycle and currently serves on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. Trump previously lobbied FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the suspension of American player Folarin Balogun, which was subsequently overturned.
DeChambeau, who is 32, was ranked as the fourth highest-paid golfer globally last year, with an estimated $52 million earned. He is currently playing for and captaining a team in the LIV Golf league, but his contract is reportedly nearing expiration. He has suggested a potential transition to becoming a full-time content creator if a new agreement is not reached. His YouTube channel has 2.7 million subscribers, and videos featuring him golfing with Adam Sandler and Stephen Curry have achieved viral status.
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Source: forbes.com
