Bryson DeChambeau missed out on nearly $280,000 in prize money after being given a two-shot penalty at The Open Championship.
The big-hitting American was involved in a bonkers clash with officials during the second round at Royal Birkdale.
After appearing to trample the grass behind his ball, the 32-year-old was docked two shots – despite demanding to be returned to the site of the incident and angrily protesting his innocence.
DeChambeau threatened to withdraw from the major and even call Donald Trump, the US president and a close friend.
The two-stroke penalty saw him slip to three shots off the lead at the halfway stage. DeChambeau then slid further down the leaderboard on Sunday.
In the end, the LIV Golf star finished in a tie for 14th as Ryan Fox took home the Claret Jug. That saw DeChambeau earn $234,325 in prize money.
Bryson DeChambeau was embroiled in a dramatic argument with officials at The Open
DeChambeau was hit with a penalty on the second day after ‘inadvertently improving his lie’
The American threatened to get US President Donald Trump involved in the dispute
Had he finished two shots better off, DeChambeau would have been in a four-way tie for sixth place and taken home $514,212. DeChambeau made $37.2million on the PGA Tour before joining LIV on a four-and-a-half-year deal worth a reported $125m.
On Monday, well-placed sources confirmed to Daily Mail Sport that the double US Open champion warned he might seek a presidential intervention at the height of the drama.
However, unlike the World Cup controversy involving USMNT striker Folarin Balogun, the White House did not get involved and the penalty was not overturned.
While Scottie Scheffler insisted DeChambeau was not a ‘cheat’, Rory McIlroy was scathing of his rival’s antics.
Speaking on Saturday, the world No 2 said: ‘I was up in the players’ lounge watching it with a few other players and as soon as he made the step into the ball, we all sort of looked at each other and we were like, “That didn’t seem right.”
Then when I heard that he was called in by the rules officials, it was pretty obvious for why.’
McIlroy added: ‘I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it is 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.’
