Bryson DeChambeau Allegedly Threatened to Call Trump Over Open Penalty

Penalty at Royal Birkdale and the Trump Allegation

The controversy began on Friday during the second round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty after officials reviewed footage showing him stepping on and flattening long grass behind his ball on the par-4 fifth hole. Officials determined that the 32-year-old had unintentionally improved the conditions affecting the stroke while assessing his lie.

The situation escalated when DeChambeau reportedly contested the ruling with tournament officials, including the head of governance and a senior referee. During subsequent discussions involving R&A chief executive Mark Darbon, it is alleged that DeChambeau threatened to call Donald Trump to intervene if the penalty was not overturned. Forbes noted that while there is no evidence such a call occurred, the threat comes after Trump successfully lobbied FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the suspension of American player Folarin Balogun after he was given a red card.

When asked about the alleged communication on Saturday, Mark Darbon said, No, I have not received a call from President Trump. Irrespective of which player this affected, it is the same decision – from a rules perspective it was clear cut.

Scottie Scheffler’s Defense and Peer Reaction

The penalty triggered a polarized response among fellow competitors. World number one Scottie Scheffler, who played alongside DeChambeau during the second round, offered a nuanced take on his colleague’s integrity. Scheffler defended DeChambeau’s character while acknowledging that the rules must be enforced.

“All I’ll say is Bryson – I’ve known him for a long time, and he’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater,”

Scottie Scheffler

Scheffler also explained that when watching the camera angle, DeChambeau may have been a touch careless around his ball, but he did not believe he did anything intentionally.

Conversely, Rory McIlroy took a harsher stance on DeChambeau’s behavior during the dispute. I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him, McIlroy stated. 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.

Tournament Outcome and Financial Context

The two-shot penalty proved costly, shifting DeChambeau’s second-round score from 66 to 68 and dropping him from one shot off the lead to three shots back. He ultimately finished the tournament in a tie for 14th place. Following the conclusion of the event, DeChambeau took to Instagram to address the week, stating, A lot of ups and downs this week, to say the least. But I’m proud of the way I fought through it.

DeChambeau’s professional status remains a subject of industry interest. Ranked as the fourth highest-paid golfer in the world with estimated annual earnings of $52 million, he currently captains a team in the LIV Golf league. However, with his contract nearing expiration, he has suggested a potential shift toward a full-time career as a content creator. His YouTube channel currently holds 2.7 million subscribers, serving as a primary platform for his engagement with fans and public figures, including Trump, with whom he has collaborated on viral content such as the Break 50 challenge.

Sources: Theguardian, Forbes.