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Bryson DeChambeau’s two-shot penalty at the 2026 Open Championship was one of the most talked about on-course incidents throughout the tournament, and it continues to make headlines after a recent report mentioned he wanted to implicate President Donald Trump.
DeChambeau, who shares a close friendship with Trump, especially after playing golf together on the LIV Golf star’s YouTube channel, was docked two shots during his second round after he was seen trampling tall grass near his ball, which is an illegal move.
Rory McIlroy claimed DeChambeau was holding the final major of the golf season hostage after refusing to sign his second-round scorecard after finishing.
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President Donald Trump, right, walks toward the Oval Office as he returns to the White House with 2024 U.S. Open winner Bryson DeChambeau after playing golf, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Today, golf writer Geoff Shackelford reports that DeChambeau wanted to implicate Trump.
“Sources with knowledge of the thirty-minute discussion said DeChambeau wanted the president to join a campaign against a possible two-shot penalty that ultimately dropped his score from 66 to 68,” Shackelford wrote. “The request came after DeChambeau had already received rare special dispensation to return to the stage where he trampled tall fescue in his backswing.”
GOLF ANALYST BRANDEL CHAMBLEE DISGUSTINGLY BURIES BRYSON DECHAMBEAU AFTER BRITISH OPEN PENALTY
Trump reportedly rejected DeChambeau’s request for intervention. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PK Press Club Digital.
American Bryson DeChambeau rides in a buggy with a rules official after the second round of the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, July 17, 2026. (Richard Heathcote/Reuters)
It’s unclear what DeChambeau thought Trump might do, but after what happened at the FIFA World Cup with Team USA, perhaps he was hoping for a similar outcome.
Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, another close friend, to ask for a review of the red card given to Folarin Balogun – the star striker of the US team throughout the tournament. Balogun’s controversial red card would have kept him out of the round of 16 match against Belgium, but FIFA suspended the red card, allowing him to play.
It ultimately made no difference, as Belgium handed the United States a 4-1 defeat to eliminate the host nation from the tournament earlier this month.
Bryson DeChambeau shakes hands with Scottie Scheffler on the 18th hole during the second round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, July 17, 2026. (Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
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DeChambeau finished tied for 14th place at 4 under for the tournament at Royal Birkdale last weekend. New Zealander Ryan Fox won his first ever major championship after birdieing his final hole to beat American Cameron Young by one stroke with a tournament score of 10 under.
