Golfer Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to contact Donald Trump during a dispute with senior R&A officials on Friday. The controversy arose after DeChambeau received a two-shot penalty at the Open Championship held at Royal Birkdale. The alleged mention of the former US president’s name occurred as DeChambeau argued against the penalty.
The incident unfolded after DeChambeau was penalised two strokes for improving his swing line. This happened when he stood on long grass behind his ball on Royal Birkdale’s fifth hole during the second round of the tournament. The 32-year-old golfer vehemently contested the decision, even insisting on returning to the scene of the incident with the R&A’s head of governance and a senior referee to plead his case.
Upon returning to the tournament scoring area, and with the R&A officials remaining firm on their decision, chief executive Mark Darbon joined the discussion. It was during this conversation that DeChambeau is understood to have stated he would call Trump if the matter was not resolved in his favour. There is no indication that such a call actually took place. The R&A has not commented on the reported Trump connection, which was initially brought to light by the Quadrilateral.
DeChambeau did not participate in mainstream media duties throughout the Open. His alleged use of Trump’s name added a further unusual element to what was already a significant story at the 2026 Open. Trump is known to be in regular contact with several high-profile golfers, including DeChambeau. The two had a cordial interaction at last year’s Ryder Cup, and DeChambeau had previously remarked that Trump would “inspire” the US team at Bethpage.
Penalty and player reactions
The two-shot penalty had a direct impact on DeChambeau’s standing in the tournament, moving him out of second place. Fellow American golfer Scottie Scheffler, who was playing with DeChambeau when the incident occurred, defended him against accusations of cheating. Scheffler stated that he had never witnessed DeChambeau cheat in any context, whether in competitive or amateur play. He acknowledged that DeChambeau might have been “a touch careless” around his ball based on video angles but did not believe his actions were intentional.
The R&A clarified that DeChambeau’s actions, while accidental, still constituted a breach of the rules. Officials stated that he had improved his swing path by trampling down knee-high rough behind his ball. The R&A’s chief executive, Mark Darbon, described the two-shot penalty as a “clear-cut decision from a rules perspective.”
Despite the R&A’s stance, DeChambeau continued to express his dissatisfaction. After Saturday’s round, he 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 penalty significantly hindered DeChambeau’s chances of winning the Claret Jug, as he had initially believed a round of 66 would place him just one shot off the lead at the halfway point.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, who has previously admitted he is “not fond of” DeChambeau, supported the penalty decision. McIlroy asserted there was “no doubt” that DeChambeau had improved his backswing line, and he further accused his rival of holding the Open “to hostage” with his complaints. Despite the controversy, DeChambeau received a warm reception from the Royal Birkdale crowd when he began his third round on Saturday, though there were some isolated shouts implying he was a “cheat.” Scheffler, the 2025 Open champion, rejected this idea, reiterating that DeChambeau is “definitely not a cheater.”
Aftermath and future plans
DeChambeau concluded the Open six shots behind the eventual champion, Ryan Fox, after posting rounds of 69 and 72 over the weekend. He continued to avoid speaking to the media throughout the week, including after the final round on Sunday. Following the penalty decision, there was some uncertainty about whether he would continue playing in the tournament, but he later indicated that the incident would “fire” him up for the remainder of the weekend.
DeChambeau’s tied-14th finish at the Open marked his best performance in a major tournament in 2026. He has remained in the UK to participate in LIV Golf‘s event at the JCB Golf and Country Club, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday. DeChambeau’s representatives have been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
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Source: theguardian.com
