Bryson DeChambeau allegedly asked for US President Donald Trump to be called as he was handed a two-shot penalty for improving his lie in the rough following his second round of The Open Championship.

According a report from golf journalist and author Geoff Shackelford in his Substack ‘The Quadrilateral’, DeChambeau told the R&A’s rules officials that he wanted them to get Trump on the phone during their heated, lengthy conversations at Royal Birkdale.

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The LIV Golf star was taken back to the scene of his crime beside the fifth fairway by officials after he had come into the scorer’s room with a round of 66 to move to within one shot of 36-hole leader Lucas Herbert of Australia.

DeChambeau’s animated reaction was captured by broadcast cameras and the American was furious when it ruled that he had improved his lie by stamping down on the rough directly behind his ball.

Timeline of Bryson’s two-shot penalty | 07:35

Lip readers picked up him threatening to not play in the remainder of the tournament, while Shackelford revealed that the two-time US Open winner wanted to take the matter to the Oval Office.

“Sources with knowledge of the thirty-minute discussion said DeChambeau wanted the President to join a campaign against the eventual two-stroke penalty that ultimately dropped his score from 66 to 68,” Shackelford wrote.

“The request came after DeChambeau had already been given a rare bit of special dispensation to return to the scene where he’d stomped around tall fescue rough in his backswing. (The R&A’s hard card states that “a player’s scorecard is officially returned to the Committee when the player has physically left the recording office/area.”)”

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Bryson DeChambeau of the United States is driven by a rules official on a buggy following day two of the The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale on July 17, 2026 in Southport, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

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A storm erupted on Friday night and across the weekend in England’s north-west before New Zealand’s Ryan Fox eventually lifted the Claret Jug, claiming his first major title with a birdie at the last in the early hours of Monday morning Australian time.

It is not the first time that Trump has been connected to controversial sporting rulings recently.

Earlier in the FIFA World Cup, which wrapped up earlier today with Trump presenting the trophy to Spain and refusing to leave the stage after the European champions defeated Argentina in the final in New Jersey, the US President intervened by convincing FIFA President Gianni Infantino to set the wheels in motion to have USA star Folarin Balogun’s red card overturned.

Balogun was cleared to play in the tournament co-host’s Round of 16 loss to Belgium as a result, and DeChambeau, who finished in a tie for 14th after a two-over par final round 72, was hoping Trump might be able to flex some political muscle for him.

The pair have struck up a friendship in recent years with DeChambeau filming one of his popular ‘Break 50’ YouTube videos with the golf-loving Trump.

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While DeChambeau appeared on stage alongside the likes of UFC boss Dana White at the celebrations the night Trump won the last presidential election.

Last year, Trump even gave DeChambeau an official White House role by making him the Chairman of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Trump also walked DeChambeau to the first tee during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.

“During the thirty-minute session (rules officials and tournament bosses), DeChambeau had still not signed his scorecard and late finishers coming off the 18th green were not able to sign for their rounds, causing tee time processing to be delayed until nearly midnight. DeChambeau was pleading his case and wanted the President of the United States to weigh in,” Shackelford wrote.

U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a proclamation signing with (L-R) professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon in the Oval Office of the White House on May 05, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

“The request was denied, as were DeChambeau’s pleas not to penalise him for the breach.”

The delays following the second round led to angst among DeChambeau’s rivals as they were forced to stay up and wait to find out their third round tee time.

Rory McIlroy said he was “not fond” of DeChambeau before adding: “To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”

McIlroy goes in on DeChambeau | 01:10

The day after the episode, R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon was asked by BBC Radio 5 Live if he had received a phone call from Trump regarding the penalty.

“No,” Darbon replied. “I have not received a call from President Trump, and we’ll see what happens from here.”