Bryson DeChambeau threatened to call former US President Donald Trump to intervene after being handed a two-stroke penalty during the second round of The Open at Royal Birkdale. The American golfer was docked two shots on Friday after flattening grass on the fifth hole, which made his backswing easier.
Open officials declared DeChambeau's actions accidental, but the decision left him incensed. DeChambeau was driven back to the scene on a buggy and engaged in lengthy remonstrations as night fell.
American course architect and author Geoff Shackelford reported late on Sunday, after Ryan Fox won The Open, that DeChambeau floated the possibility of involving Trump in the dispute. Informed sources confirmed through phone calls that DeChambeau threatened to call his friend Trump or withdraw from the tournament entirely.
There was no presidential intervention, leaving the two-shot penalty intact. DeChambeau has refused to comment publicly on the matter, walking away from media representatives throughout the week.
Neither DeChambeau nor his agent, Brett Falkoff, responded to a request for clarification from Daily Mail Sport. DeChambeau and Falkoff were seen together after officials docked the golfer two shots.
Reactions From Rivals
Rory McIlroy spoke for more than a few of the field when he strongly criticized DeChambeau's performative antics following the ruling. The world No 2 highlighted DeChambeau's buggy ride, arm waving, and dramatic presentation of a grave injustice.
McIlroy also raised questions regarding DeChambeau's intent on the fifth hole. Asked if he felt DeChambeau knew what he was doing when he inadvertently improved his swing path, McIlroy said: "I'm not in his mind, but it didn't look good."
Scottie Scheffler was among the cohort of players to offer a different view, stating unequivocally that DeChambeau is not a cheat. Stigma attached to cheating in golf remains an immovable stain that should not be applied lightly.
DeChambeau remains a box-office star who brings eyeballs to every step. Punters love him, and his spectator support was overwhelming on the links of Royal Birkdale despite the incident. He also maintains an influencer role with a YouTube following of almost three million.
Future On Tour
DeChambeau's position in the game was shrouded in doubt long before the fifth-hole incident. His LIV Golf contract expires at the end of this season, and that tour might not exist in 2027. He thinks a better living could be made full-time on YouTube between major championships if he finds himself without a tour.
The PGA Tour has done nothing to indicate a desperation to have DeChambeau back. Tour officials were unwilling to grant him a smooth off-road path even before cheating discussions arose, an outcome that affronted his ego.
Industry insiders point to Phil Mickelson as a warning for DeChambeau. Mickelson's profile and achievements dwarf DeChambeau's by a factor of thousands, yet he became persona non grata after various scandals. Based on conversations held during the week, sources said hell will freeze over before the PGA Tour reunites with Mickelson.
