Bryson DeChambeau wanted President Trump to intervene in his Open Championship penalty: report
Bryson DeChambeau's two-stroke penalty at the 2026 Open Championship remains a talking point after a report claimed he wanted President Donald Trump to intervene on his behalf. The penalty was issued during his second round after officials ruled he had improved his lie by stomping down tall grass near his ball, an illegal action under the rules of golf. DeChambeau and Trump are known to be close friends, having played golf together and appeared on DeChambeau's YouTube channel, which fuelled speculation about why he might have sought the president's help.
The incident caused wider controversy at the tournament, with Rory McIlroy accusing DeChambeau of "holding hostage" the year's final major after he initially refused to sign his second-round scorecard following the ruling. DeChambeau, the 2024 US Open champion, ultimately accepted the penalty, but the episode continued to generate headlines well after the championship concluded.
In short
- DeChambeau reportedly wanted Trump's help over a golf penalty
- Docked two strokes for improving his lie at The Open
- Rory McIlroy accused him of delaying scorecard signing afterwards
Explained simply
Bryson DeChambeau received a two-stroke penalty during the 2026 Open Championship after officials ruled he had illegally improved his lie by stomping down tall grass near his ball. This incident occurred during the second round of golf's oldest major championship, where such decisions can determine the tournament's outcome.
DeChambeau is one of professional golf's leading players and the 2024 US Open champion. He is known to be close friends with President Donald Trump, having golfed together publicly. The situation escalated when fellow golfer Rory McIlroy accused DeChambeau of "holding hostage" the championship after he initially refused to sign his scorecard following the penalty.
The incident raised questions about rule enforcement and decision-making at major tournaments. The prominence of the players and circumstances involved meant the controversy continued to attract attention long after the championship concluded.