Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to contact Trump over Open Championship penalty
Open Championship Penalty Incident
Golfer Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to contact President Donald Trump after receiving a two-stroke penalty during The Open Championship in England. The penalty, issued during the second round, reportedly caused DeChambeau to drop down the leaderboard and led to a strong protest from the golfer.
The incident occurred on the par-4 fifth hole when DeChambeau’s drive landed in thick rough. Television footage showed him stepping on grass and shuffling his feet behind his ball, which officials determined unintentionally improved the “conditions affecting the stroke” by creating a clearer swing path. This action resulted in a two-shot penalty, changing his score on the hole from a bogey 5 to a triple-bogey 7, and his second-round score from 66 to 68. The penalty reportedly moved him from one shot off the lead to three shots back.
DeChambeau’s protest included a visit to the site of the incident with the tournament organizer’s head of governance and a senior referee. Reports from British media outlets on Monday indicated that he threatened to call Trump, a close personal friend, if the penalty was not overturned. Despite the reported threat, the penalty was not retracted, and DeChambeau ultimately finished 14th in the tournament, marking his best major tournament finish this year.
Reactions and Delays
Following the decision to uphold the penalty, DeChambeau reportedly delayed announcing his continuation in the tournament for two hours. This procrastination reportedly held up the release of third-round tee times until nearly 11 p.m., with his decision to continue playing not announced until almost midnight.
Fellow golfer Rory McIlroy commented on the situation, stating he was not particularly fond of DeChambeau’s actions. McIlroy suggested that much of it was performative and for attention, criticizing DeChambeau for holding the tournament hostage and making players, volunteers, and others wait.
Scottie Scheffler, who played with DeChambeau in the second round, also addressed the penalty. While initially hesitant to comment, Scheffler later defended DeChambeau’s integrity, stating, “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.” Scheffler added that he had never witnessed DeChambeau cheat in any context, from putting contests to amateur golf.
However, Scheffler also suggested that the rules might need stricter enforcement and that DeChambeau might have been “careless” around his ball. He noted that camera angles can sometimes make situations appear different than they are in person, especially for players like DeChambeau whose every shot is televised. Scheffler also mentioned that other players, including Russell Henley, have brought up the increased scrutiny DeChambeau faces compared to other golfers.
DeChambeau’s Relationship with Trump
DeChambeau’s relationship with Trump reportedly 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 golf together on Trump-owned courses, and their connection became particularly visible in 2024 when they filmed a “Break 50” YouTube golf challenge at Trump National in Bedminster, which has garnered 17 million views.
DeChambeau has publicly described Trump as a friend, and Trump has reportedly complimented the golfer’s talent and personality. DeChambeau endorsed Trump during the 2024 presidential election cycle and currently serves on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. While there is no evidence that DeChambeau contacted Trump during The Open Championship incident, and tournament officials stated they did not hear from the president, the threat follows a previous instance where Trump reportedly lobbied FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the suspension of American player Folarin Balogun, which was subsequently overturned.
DeChambeau, 32, was ranked by Forbes as the fourth highest-paid golfer globally last year, earning an estimated $52 million. He is currently playing for and captaining a team in the LIV Golf league, but his contract is reportedly nearing expiration. He has suggested a 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 Adam Sandler and Stephen Curry.
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Source: forbes.com
