Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to call Trump over Open Championship penalty
Golfer Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to contact President Donald Trump following a two-stroke penalty at The Open Championship in England. The penalty, issued during the second round, caused DeChambeau to drop on the leaderboard, leading to a strong protest from the player.
According to several British media outlets, DeChambeau loudly contested the decision and indicated he would call Trump, described as a close personal friend, if the penalty was not overturned. This alleged threat was part of a heated argument against the ruling, which saw him fall from second place.
The incident occurred on the par-4 fifth hole. Television footage showed DeChambeau repeatedly stepping on grass and shuffling his feet behind his ball in thick rough. Officials determined he had unintentionally improved the “conditions affecting the stroke” by creating a clearer swing path for his backswing. This resulted in a two-shot penalty, changing his score for the hole from a bogey 5 to a triple-bogey 7, and his second-round score from 66 to 68.
Penalty and Reaction
The penalty was not retracted, and DeChambeau ultimately finished 14th in the tournament. This marked his best major tournament finish of the year. Despite the alleged threat, there is no evidence that DeChambeau contacted Trump, and tournament officials stated they did not hear from the former president.
The situation drew comments from other golfers, including Rory McIlroy, who expressed his disapproval of DeChambeau’s actions. McIlroy stated he was “not particularly fond of him” and suggested that DeChambeau’s behavior was “performative” and “for attention.” He added that holding the tournament hostage and making others wait was “not a great look.”
Scottie Scheffler, who played with DeChambeau during the second round, also weighed in on the controversy. Initially hesitant to comment, Scheffler later defended DeChambeau’s integrity, stating, “he’s definitely not a cheater.” Scheffler mentioned he had never witnessed DeChambeau cheat in various competitions, including amateur golf.
However, Scheffler also suggested that the rules might need stricter enforcement and that DeChambeau could have been “careless” around his ball. He acknowledged that camera angles can make situations appear different than they are in person, especially for players like DeChambeau, whose every shot is televised.
Scheffler highlighted the challenge of policing rules when some players receive more scrutiny than others. He referenced a past incident involving Jon Rahm where a ball movement in the rough was difficult to discern with the naked eye. Scheffler concluded by emphasizing the need to return to the “traditions of the game” and potentially police things more strictly.
DeChambeau’s Connections and Career
DeChambeau’s friendship with Trump dates back to early in his career. In 2020, Eric Trump hosted a party for DeChambeau at the Trump National Golf Club after his U.S. Open victory. The two have played rounds together on Trump-owned courses, and their relationship gained visibility in 2024 when they filmed a “Break 50” YouTube golf challenge at Trump National in Bedminster, which garnered 17 million views.
DeChambeau has publicly endorsed Trump and serves on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. He is ranked as the fourth highest-paid golfer globally, with an estimated $52 million earned last year. DeChambeau, 32, is currently playing for and captaining a team in the LIV Golf league, but his contract is nearing its end. He has indicated a potential transition to becoming a full-time content creator if a new agreement is not reached, with his YouTube channel boasting 2.7 million subscribers and viral videos featuring collaborations with figures like Adam Sandler and Stephen Curry.
The penalty incident became a significant talking point at this year’s Open, delaying the release of third-round tee times until nearly 11 p.m. as DeChambeau waited two hours before announcing he would continue in the tournament.
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Source: forbes.com
