Golf icon Nick Faldo criticized Bryson DeChambeau following the American's two-stroke penalty and emotional arguments with rules officials at The Open at Royal Birkdale. Faldo claimed the LIV Golf star wants to be the center of attention after a turbulent second round on Friday.
DeChambeau began shouting at officials on Friday as they debated whether he improved his lie by stomping down long grass on the fifth hole. Rules officials subsequently handed the 32-year-old a two-stroke penalty over the matter.
In the immediate aftermath of the ruling, DeChambeau floated the possibility of an extraordinary withdrawal from the tournament during a livid outburst. He later cooled down and confirmed on social media that he would contest the third round.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday morning, six-time Major winner Faldo offered a scathing assessment of DeChambeau's actions at Royal Birkdale.
"[Bryson] wants to be the center of attention and everything," Faldo said. "I mean, I always thought you wanted to come into a major and really keep your mind and body on a lovely even kind of zen keel."
"And for him to be having to deal with all this emotion, whether it fires him up or not, we will see, but I've got to believe it's another hurdle to climb," Faldo added.
Lighthearted Reactions and Scorecard Demands
On Saturday, DeChambeau made light of his meltdown by mocking rules officials toward the end of his third round at Royal Birkdale. After finding the rough once more, the American brought in a rules official and told him that his ball had moved but he did not touch it, according to the Golf Channel.
"I was away from it!" DeChambeau insisted, raising his hands and playfully stepping away from the ball as he feigned innocence. In another clip, the LIV Golf star could be seen sticking his arms out in faux shock as he dramatically approached his ball.
After finishing his round, DeChambeau became embroiled in fresh controversy. He was seen in an animated conversation with R&A chief executive Mark Darbon, with the 32-year-old understood to have issued a bizarre demand to be handed his second-round scorecard. The request was denied.
Rory McIlroy and Players React to Delays
Earlier on Saturday, Rory McIlroy had accused DeChambeau of holding The Open hostage after he waited late into the night to decide whether he would pull out in protest at his two-shot penalty.
It meant the rest of the field did not learn of their official tee times until around 11pm. Englishman Marco Penge described that as "a joke."
"I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson," McIlroy said. "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," McIlroy said.
McIlroy, who finished his third round at two-under par heading into the final day, said the decision to hand DeChambeau a two-shot penalty was the correct one.