Bryson DeChambeau received a two-shot penalty at The Open at Royal Birkdale after rules officials ruled he trampled tall grass behind his ball during his second round. The 32-year-old two-time US Open champion hit an errant tee shot and created room for his backswing by stepping on the grass.
Officials from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews issued the penalty following lengthy discussions on the course with the American superstar, golf pioneer and YouTube sensation. The ruling sparked an angry reaction from the former champion, who reportedly suggested he might withdraw from the 154th Open Golf championship in the northwest of England.
As tensions escalated, DeChambeau threatened to call his friend President Donald Trump in an attempt to challenge the ruling. Former coach Mike Schy, who trained DeChambeau for 14 years until 2018 and helped mold him into one of golf's biggest names, said the outburst revealed the player's true character under pressure.
"I've always said to a lot of people that Bryson hides who he really is until the real pressure comes on him," Schy told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview. "Then you really see who he is. There's Bryson."
Schy added that he was not surprised by the threat to contact Trump. "I know DeChambeau and Trump are buddies, so it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if he did that," Schy said. "Bryson is a person who does not accept defeat and he wasn't getting his way. He was livid."
History of Tournament Meltdowns
Schy said the furious reaction at Royal Birkdale aligned with DeChambeau's behavior during his early career. When DeChambeau played his first Open at Royal Birkdale in 2017 after winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic the previous week, he missed the cut and struggled to control his frustration.
"He had the worst meltdown and it took him hours to get over it," Schy recalled. "His agent would always get involved and try to get me to talk to him, but you can't just say 'calm down, Bryson', not unless you wanted a golf club thrown at you."
During the 2018 Open at Carnoustie on the east coast of Scotland, DeChambeau grew angry with his swing during a practice session. He threw clubs and eventually dropped to his knees in frustration on the course.
"That was one of the most crazy, stupid things I've ever seen," Schy said. "Sometimes you wish you could tackle him in those moments and drag him off the golf course, but you just can't."
Representatives for DeChambeau did not respond to requests for comment regarding the incidents.
Autograph Conflicts and Social Media Following
Schy claimed that DeChambeau exhibited a stubborn streak beyond his play on the course. He recalled confronting the young golfer when DeChambeau allegedly refused to sign autographs for tournament fans.
"I said, 'You've always said you wanted to be like Arnold Palmer, so get in there and sign autographs. These people are your support. They love you. They're your fans,'" Schy said. "And he would literally say, 'I don't care.'"
DeChambeau has since built a massive public profile as an entertainer, regular fan interactive presence, and digital creator. He maintains an online following of nearly 2.8 million subscribers on YouTube and another 4.6 million followers on Instagram.
Schy acknowledged DeChambeau's efforts to engage with fans, while attributing the shift to public image management. "I do like the fact that he's made that effort," Schy said. "I think that's awesome, even if it's for a different reason than just being a really good person." When asked to clarify, Schy called it "Brand Bryson."
Coaching Dispute and Rival Reactions
The business relationship between Schy and DeChambeau collapsed in 2020. Schy accused DeChambeau of breaking promises to financially support a junior golf tour that Schy operated.
DeChambeau countered that Schy failed to build a coherent business model. Following his 2024 US Open victory at Pinehurst, DeChambeau accused Schy of attempting to extort $2 million from him, an allegation Schy denied.
Other professional golfers at Royal Birkdale expressed frustration with DeChambeau's conduct following the penalty. Six-time major winner Rory McIlroy publicly criticized DeChambeau's behavior on the course.
"I think a lot of it's performative. I think a lot of it is for attention," McIlroy said. "I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him."
McIlroy added: "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."
After receiving the penalty, DeChambeau returned to the practice range and remained there until darkness fell at 10:30 p.m. while reporters and cameras watched nearby. Schy questioned the motives behind the late session, calling it a narcissistic reaction where DeChambeau wants everyone to feel his pain.
Despite the criticism, competitors defended DeChambeau against any accusations of dishonesty. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler insisted DeChambeau is not a cheater, a sentiment Schy supported by stating DeChambeau was simply super careless regarding the rules.
