Bryson DeChambeau has been accused of threatening to contact Donald Trump during a disagreement with senior R&A officials. The incident occurred on Friday after the American golfer received a two-shot penalty at the Open Championship. DeChambeau’s alleged mention of the former US president’s name while disputing the ruling adds another unusual element to what was already a prominent story at the 2026 Open.
The penalty was issued to DeChambeau for allegedly improving his swing line by standing on long grass behind his ball on Royal Birkdale’s fifth hole during the second round. The golfer reportedly argued his case intensely, even insisting on returning to the scene of the incident with the R&A’s head of governance and a senior referee.
Upon returning to the tournament scoring area, and with the R&A’s stance unchanged, chief executive Mark Darbon joined the discussion. During this conversation, DeChambeau is understood to have stated he would call Trump if the matter was not resolved in his favor. There is no evidence that such a call actually took place. DeChambeau did not participate in mainstream media duties throughout the Open, and the R&A has not commented on the reported Trump connection, which was initially brought to light by the Quadrilateral.
The possibility of Trump’s involvement in such a situation, though seemingly unprecedented, has been discussed. One reason for its plausibility is a previous instance in 2026 where Trump reportedly intervened in a controversial decision during the World Cup. In that case, Folarin Balogun, a star forward for the United States, received a red card and was suspended for a subsequent game. After Trump reportedly spoke with Gianni Infantino, the head of FIFA, the ruling was overturned, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium.
Another factor contributing to the plausibility of DeChambeau’s alleged threat is his known support for Trump and their existing relationship. The two have golfed together, and Trump has appeared on DeChambeau’s YouTube channel. This connection made it conceivable that DeChambeau might seek Trump’s intervention. However, in this instance, the request was reportedly denied, Trump was not involved, and the penalty against DeChambeau was upheld.
The penalty caused DeChambeau to drop out of second place. Following Saturday’s round, DeChambeau reportedly went directly to Darbon’s office to request his second-round scorecard. This unusual request was politely declined by the R&A’s chief executive.
The controversy surrounding DeChambeau’s penalty has generated considerable discussion within the golf community. While some, like Pat McAfee, have defended DeChambeau’s actions, not everyone agrees with his stance. McAfee expressed respect for DeChambeau’s threat not to appear on Saturday, suggesting the golfer could easily decide to go home with his custom clubs and popular YouTube channel.
However, Rory McIlroy, another prominent golfer, supported the ruling and openly criticized DeChambeau. McIlroy stated that whether DeChambeau’s action was careless or intentional, the two-shot penalty was justified. He added that he would not defend DeChambeau, suggesting that much of his behavior is performative and aimed at gaining attention.
Despite the debate and DeChambeau’s dissatisfaction, the penalty remained in place. He ultimately finished outside the top 10 at the event, with a tied-14th finish marking his best major tournament performance in 2026. DeChambeau has remained in the UK to participate in LIV Golf’s event at the JCB Golf and Country Club, which begins on Thursday.
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Source: theguardian.com
