Bryson DeChambeau allegedly threatened to call Donald Trump during explosive British Open penalty fight

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Bryson DeChambeau reportedly considered playing the ultimate Trump card during his heated rules dispute at the 2026 British Open. DeChambeau allegedly warned R&A officials that he was prepared to call President Donald Trump while fighting the two-stroke penalty that knocked him out of the final pairing at Royal Birkdale, according to a report from The Times.

The alleged remark has not been publicly confirmed by DeChambeau, Trump or the R&A. The Times reported that DeChambeau, LIV Golf and the R&A declined to comment on its account, making it important to treat the extraordinary claim as an allegation rather than an established fact. What is confirmed is that DeChambeau fiercely disputed the penalty, spent approximately 40 minutes pleading his case and considered withdrawing from the tournament.

Trump never contacted the R&A, according to the organization’s chief executive.

Did Bryson DeChambeau threaten to call Donald Trump?

The reported Trump remark allegedly came during DeChambeau’s tense meeting with tournament officials after Friday’s second round. According to The Times, DeChambeau demanded to return to the fifth hole to examine the scene before allegedly warning officials that he was prepared to contact Trump. The exact context of the alleged comment remains unclear, and there is no indication that DeChambeau actually placed the call.

R&A chief executive Mark Darbon later confirmed that Trump had not contacted him.

“No, I have not received a call from President Trump,” Darbon said, according to Golf Digest.

DeChambeau and Trump have played golf together and maintained a public relationship. DeChambeau also appeared with Trump during the president’s 2024 campaign and has previously described him as a friend.

Those ties make the reported threat plausible enough to attract enormous attention, but they do not prove it happened. Unless DeChambeau or another person present in the room confirms the exchange, it remains an allegation attributed to The Times’ reporting.

Why was DeChambeau penalized at the British Open?

The controversy began after DeChambeau’s tee shot on the par-4 fifth hole landed in deep grass during Friday’s second round. Television footage showed DeChambeau stepping into the area around his ball while preparing to play his second shot. R&A officials later determined that his actions pressed down grass in the path of his intended backswing, potentially making the shot easier.

DeChambeau argued that any improvement was accidental. The R&A agreed that he did not deliberately alter the area, but intent did not change the ruling.

The organization assessed a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing. His bogey became a triple bogey, changing his second-round score from 66 to 68. Instead of entering Saturday at seven under and one shot behind the lead, DeChambeau fell to five under and three shots back.

“It was an unfortunate decision but really clear-cut from a rules perspective,” Darbon told the BBC, via Golf Digest.

DeChambeau did not accept the decision quietly. He returned to the fifth hole with officials to recreate the situation and argue that the grass had not been meaningfully improved. The discussion reportedly continued for another 20 to 25 minutes after the group returned to the scoring area. The R&A ultimately refused to overturn the penalty.

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Rory McIlroy weighs in on DeChambeau controversy

Rory McIlroy believed the violation was apparent as soon as it happened.

“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,’” McIlroy said, according to CBS Sports.

McIlroy later described the reason for the ruling as “pretty obvious.”

Scottie Scheffler offered a more sympathetic assessment. He said DeChambeau was “definitely not a cheater” and argued that any advantage was likely unintentional, according to Reuters.

That distinction matters. The R&A did not accuse DeChambeau of intentionally cheating. Its ruling was that his actions improved a protected condition, even if the improvement was accidental.

DeChambeau publicly disagreed with the ruling but eventually confirmed that he would remain in the tournament.

“Obviously disappointed with the ruling,” he wrote on social media. “I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it.”

Penalty helps end DeChambeau’s British Open hopes

DeChambeau remained within striking distance entering the weekend, but he never recovered sufficiently to challenge for the Claret Jug. He shot a 69 in the third round before closing with a 72. DeChambeau finished tied for 14th at four under, six shots behind champion Ryan Fox.

Fox birdied the 18th hole to finish at 10 under and defeat Cameron Young by one stroke, becoming only the second New Zealand golfer to win the British Open, according to Reuters.

DeChambeau’s tournament will instead be remembered for the penalty, the prolonged confrontation with officials and one remarkable allegation. The idea that one of golf’s biggest stars threatened to involve the president during a rules dispute sounds almost too wild to be true. For now, it may be.

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