Bryson DeChambeau has found himself at the center of a swirling controversy at The Open, with several media outlets reporting that he may have tried to enlist former President Donald Trump to intervene in a rules dispute. The two‑time major champion received a two‑stroke penalty late on Friday after officials at Royal Birkdale reviewed video footage and concluded that he had altered the condition of his backswing area by flattening a patch of long grass on the fifth hole.
The penalty dropped DeChambeau from a position just one shot off the lead into a tie for fifth place, three strokes behind the leader. According to multiple reports, during an extended conversation with officials from the R&A, DeChambeau allegedly threatened to call President Trump in an effort to sway the decision. The suggestion was that a high‑profile appeal from the White House could pressure the governing body into overturning the penalty, much like the recent episode in which Trump asked FIFA to review a red‑card decision involving U.S.
forward Folarin Balogun, resulting in the suspension of the player's one‑match ban. DeChambeau, a known friend of Trump and a member of the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, had previously visited the White House in May and has been seen playing golf alongside the former commander‑in‑chief. The R&A’s chief executive, Mark Darbon, was asked on Saturday whether the President had been contacted about the matter.
Darbon responded to BBC Sport, "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." The R&A has not publicly commented on any private communications that may have taken place, and Sky Sports News reports that DeChambeau visited Darbon’s office after his third round, seeking to retrieve his scorecard from the previous day—a request that was denied. DeChambeau’s situation is further complicated by his recent performance trajectory. After missing the cut in three consecutive majors—a stretch that would have resulted in a so‑called "Bryson Slam" of missing all four majors in a single season—he managed to finish tied‑14th at The Open, six strokes behind the champion, Ryan Fox.
This finish broke his run of missed cuts and allowed him to avoid the unwanted statistical footnote. However, the American star remained silent for the eighth straight major round, refusing to field post‑round interviews, a pattern that mirrors his media silence after missed cuts at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open.
On social media, DeChambeau acknowledged the roller‑coaster nature of the week, posting on Instagram, "A lot of ups and downs this week, to say the least. 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!" His remarks, while appreciative, offered little insight into the alleged Trump outreach. Reactions from fellow players have been mixed.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler publicly defended DeChambeau, emphasizing that the American is "not a cheater" and that the penalty was a straightforward application of the rules. In contrast, Rory McIlroy was far more critical, labeling the episode as "performative" and suggesting that DeChambeau was seeking attention.
McIlroy said, "I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention.
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." The controversy also raises broader questions about the influence of political figures in sports governance. While the President’s office has historically stayed out of day‑to‑day sporting decisions, the alleged attempt to involve Trump in a golf rules dispute underscores the potential for high‑profile political intervention to create pressure on independent bodies like the R&A. Whether such a call would have altered the outcome remains speculative, but the mere suggestion has sparked debate about the appropriate boundaries between politics and sport. Looking ahead, DeChambeau is slated to compete in the LIV Golf League event at JCB Golf and Country Club in England, beginning Thursday.
Notably, he is not listed for any pre‑tournament media obligations, perhaps indicating a continued desire to keep a low profile amid the ongoing saga. The Open controversy, however, is likely to linger in discussions about rule enforcement, player conduct, and the role of external influence in professional golf.