Golf icon Nick Faldo pulled no punches as he weighed in on Bryson DeChambeau’s controversy at The Open, brutally claiming he wants to be ‘the center of attention’.
In astonishing scenes at Royal Birkdale on Friday, the American began shouting at officials as they argued over whether he improved his lie on the fifth hole – before later being handed a two-stroke penalty over the matter.
He had floated the possibility of an extraordinary withdrawal during a livid outburst with officials in the immediate aftermath of the ruling. However, after cooling down, he later confirmed on social media that he would contest the third round.
His outburst on Friday, however, still drew the ire of golf legend Faldo, who offered a scathing assessment of DeChambeau’s actions at Royal Birkdale.
Speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday morning, Faldo said: [Bryson] wants to be the center of attention and everything. I mean, I always thought you wanted to come into a major and really keep your mind and body on a lovely even kind of zen keel.
‘And for him to be having to deal with all this emotion, whether it fires him up or not, we will see, but I’ve got to believe it’s another hurdle to climb.’
Bryson DeChambeau was embroiled in a dramatic argument with rules officials at The Open
The American could be seen clashing with officials over whether he stomped down long grass
On Saturday, DeChambeau made light of his meltdown at The Open by mocking rules officials toward the end of his third round at Royal Birkdale.
After finding the rough once more, the American brought in a rules official and told him that his ball had moved but he did not touch it, according to the Golf Channel.
‘I was away from it!’ DeChambeau insisted, raising his hands and playfully stepping away from the ball as he feigned innocence.
In another clip, the LIV Golf star could be seen sticking his arms out in faux shock as he dramatically approached his ball.
After finishing his round, DeChambeau became embroiled in fresh controversy. He was seen in an animated conversation with R&A chief executive Mark Darbon, with the 32-year-old understood to have issued a bizarre demand to be handed his second-round scorecard. The request was denied.
Earlier on Saturday, McIlroy had accused DeChambeau of holding The Open hostage after he waited late into the night to decide whether he would pull out in protest at his two-shot penalty.
Six-time Major winner Nick Faldo pulled no punches as he weighed in on the controversy
DeChambeau made light of his meltdown at The Open during his third round on Saturday
It meant the rest of the field did not learn of their official tee times until around 11pm. Englishman Marco Penge described that as ‘a joke’, while 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.’
McIlroy, who finished his third round at two-under par heading into the final day, said the decision to hand DeChambeau a two-shot penalty was the correct one.
