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.