Bryson DeChambeau reportedly tried to get US President Donald Trump involved in the dispute that saw him hit with a two-shot penalty at The Open.
Tensions escalated on the second evening at Royal Birkdale when DeChambeau was informed he was set to be sanctioned after ‘inadvertently improving his lie’ when he was stuck in thick rough on the fifth hole.
This meant that the American’s score was adjusted from a four under par 66 to a two under par 68, a move that left him infuriated, and hampered his chances of glory.
And, according to golf writer Geoff Shackelford in his Substack Quadrilateral, during a heated post-round discussion with governing body the R&A, which included CEO Mark Darbon, DeChambeau requested for Trump’s involvement in the dispute.
This demand was denied as were DeChambeau’s repeated protests and meltdown where he sought to avoid the penalty.
This comes despite the American having been shown replays which were labelled as conclusive, while he also was involved in a tense dispute with Grant Moir, the Chief Global Golf Alliance Officer for The R&A, when taken back to the area where the incident occured.
Bryson DeChambeau reportedly tried to get US President Donald Trump involved in the dispute that saw him hit with a two-shot penalty at The Open
DeChambeau had threatened to withdraw from the tournament if his penalty wasn’t overturned, telling Moir ‘I just won’t play tomorrow’, and his actions were widely condemned within the golfing world.
This included Rory McIlroy, a well-known rival of DeChambeau, who labelled him as ‘performative’ and ‘holding The Open hostage’.
R&A CEO Darbon was then pressed on Saturday on the claims and whether he had been contacted by Trump, to which he said: ‘No. I have not received a call from president Trump, and we’ll see what happens from here.’
Such an incident would usually be laughed off, yet given Trump’s interventions at the FIFA World Cup, it could have been a hugely contentious issue.
This came when the USA suffered a blow in their last-32 World Cup win over Bosnia & Herzegovina when star striker Folarin Balogun was sent off, meaning he was set to be banned from their last-16 clash against Belgium.
However, Balgoun’s ban was suspended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a close confidante of Trump, after the US President personally called him and urged the football supremo to allow the striker to play.
Despite Trump’s interventions, the US were thrashed 4-1 by Belgium, yet the 80-year-old has repeatedly boasted about his involvement, including claiming things ‘worked out much better’ when speaking ahead of Sunday’s final, where he was booed by many as he walked out onto the pitch.
DeChambeau’s request for Trump’s help also takes on added significance given the pair are close and class each other as friends.
Back in 2024 when DeChambeau won the US Open, he celebrated his success with the president’s family, while the golfer is also a member of Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
The penalty ultimately proved to be irrelevant as DeChambeau struggled on the final round to end at four under par, six shots off eventual winner Ryan Fox.
MORE TO FOLLOW
