Bryson DeChambeau’s polarizing protest of a controversial two-stroke penalty during the British Open included a request for his friend President Trump to weigh in, according to multiple reports and first published by course architect Geoff Shackelford.
The American LIV Golf star reportedly threatened to withdraw and call Trump to intervene on the matter as he argued he did not improve his lie at Royal Birkdale Golf Club on Friday.
The two-time US Open champ was penalized under Rule 8-1a for illegally improving the conditions of his stroke by stomping down heavy fescue grass behind his ball on the fifth hole during the second round, according to Grant Moir, the executive director of governance for The R&A.
Moir explained that the penalty applied “even when the action was accidental, as it was in Bryson’s case.”
“What the prohibited action here is that the player mustn’t move, bend or break any growing or attached natural object,” Moir told reporters. “A player is allowed to fairly take their stance by taking reasonable actions to get to the ball and take a stance … but when doing so, the player must take the least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation and is not entitled to a normal stance or swing.”
DeChambeau is also a member of Trump’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition.
Listen to The Open’s Chief Referee go into detail on why Bryson DeChambeau was penalized two strokes during Friday’s Round 2.
📺 The 154th Open Championship Round 3: Saturday 7 a.m. ET on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/H96MiIwWIN
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 17, 2026
In a post on X later Friday, DeChambeau, who finished the tournament, said he was “obviously disappointed” with the ruling.
“I don’t agree with it, but it is what it is,” he wrote. “This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let’s get it.”
New Zealand’s Ryan Fox birdied on the 72nd hole to win the 154th Open Championship for the first major championship title of his career.
The report came after Trump intervened with the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Earlier this month, Trump made a call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of American forward Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card he received for colliding with Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic in the 61st minute of their Round of 32 match. Balogun was allowed to play in the Round of 16 against Belgium.
The U.S. pulled off a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina by finishing the game with a short-handed 10-man squad — before a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
