Bryson DeChambeau has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy surrounding The Open Championship, with several media outlets suggesting that he may have attempted to enlist former President Donald Trump in the dispute over a recent penalty. The two‑time major champion was handed a two‑stroke penalty late on Friday after the R&A reviewed video evidence and concluded that he had unintentionally improved his backswing by flattening a patch of long grass on the fifth hole at Royal Birkdale. This decision dropped DeChambeau from a tie for second place, just one shot off the lead, to a tie for fifth, three strokes behind the leader. According to multiple reports, DeChambeau allegedly threatened to call Trump during a protracted discussion with R&A officials about the penalty.
The story alleges that the American golfer, who has a known friendship with the former president, considered seeking presidential intervention in a manner similar to the one Trump recently pursued in a separate sporting controversy. Trump had asked FIFA to review a red‑card decision involving U.S.
forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup, a request that ultimately led to the suspension of the player’s one‑match ban. Sources claim DeChambeau hoped for a comparable outcome, hoping that a high‑profile appeal from the White House would pressure the governing body to reverse or soften the sanction.
While no phone call was ever recorded, it remains unclear whether DeChambeau ever actually reached out to Trump privately. On Saturday, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon was asked by reporters whether the president had been contacted, and he responded that he had not received any communication from Trump.
"No, I have not received a call from President Trump," Darbon told BBC Sport. "Regardless of which player is involved, the decision was clear‑cut from a rules perspective." DeChambeau’s connection to Trump is well documented. He serves on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, made a White House appearance in May, and has been photographed playing golf with the former commander‑in‑chief on several occasions.
Those ties have fueled speculation that he might feel comfortable reaching out to the former president for assistance in a high‑stakes sporting dispute. In addition to the alleged phone‑call threat, the controversy deepened when DeChambeau visited Darbon’s office after his third round on Saturday. According to Sky Sports News, the golfer requested possession of his scorecard from the previous day, a request that was denied. The R&A has not commented further on that particular issue, leaving many questions unanswered about the procedural aspects of the penalty and the subsequent handling of the scorecard.
The penalty itself sparked a broader debate about the consistency and fairness of the rules enforcement at major championships. Some players, including world number one Scottie Scheffler, defended DeChambeau, emphasizing that the American is "not a cheater" and that the ruling was a straightforward application of the rules.
Others, such as Rory McIlroy, were more critical, describing the incident as "performative" and suggesting that DeChambeau was seeking attention by turning the situation into a spectacle that delayed the tournament and inconvenienced volunteers, officials, and fellow competitors. Despite the drama, DeChambeau managed to finish the tournament tied for 14th place, six strokes behind the winner, Ryan Fox.
The result broke a streak of three consecutive missed cuts in majors, averting what some had dubbed the "Bryson Slam"—missing all four majors in a single season. After the round, DeChambeau declined to speak to the waiting media, continuing a pattern of silence that has persisted through his missed cuts at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. He later posted on Instagram, acknowledging the emotional rollercoaster of the week: "A lot of ups and downs this week, to say the least.
But I'm proud of the way I fought through it. Thank you to all my supporters for carrying me through. Onwards and upwards from here. Congratulations to Ryan Fox on an incredible win!" The statement reflected both gratitude for his fan base and a determination to move forward despite the controversy.
Looking ahead, DeChambeau is scheduled to compete in the LIV Golf League event in England, set to begin at JCB Golf & Country Club on Thursday. However, he is not listed for any pre‑tournament media obligations, suggesting that he may continue to limit his public exposure while the fallout from the Open dispute continues to simmer. The episode has reignited conversations about the role of high‑profile athletes in influencing governing bodies, the appropriateness of invoking political figures in sports disputes, and the need for transparent, consistent rule enforcement.
Whether DeChambeau’s alleged attempt to involve Trump will have lasting repercussions for his reputation or for the R&A’s handling of future penalties remains to be seen, but the incident has undeniably added another layer of intrigue to an already dramatic chapter in modern golf history.