iStockphoto / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Bryson DeChambeau wanted Donald Trump to overturn British Open penalty.
Bryson DeChambeau reportedly asked to contact President Donald Trump in hopes of have a two-stroke penalty at the British Open overturned. His request was not granted, but the inquiry is now public knowledge.
The bizarre ask came days after Trump intervened to have Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension retracted at the World Cup.
Trump has pull. He’s also close with DeChambeau. That relationship did not help the golfer this week in England.
Bryson DeChambeau was penalized.
Earlier vs. currently on the 5th hole
Bryson DeChambeau goes from setup to contact, while he explains his perspective on the incident with rules officials hours later pic.twitter.com/ORgImmdVka
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 17, 2026
During the second round of the Open Championship, DeChambeau was penalized for improving his lie. He broke Rule 8.1 on the fifth hole.
DeChambeau bogeyed the hole. That was later changed to triple bogey as a result of the penalty. It significantly impacted his standing on the leaderboard.
The golfer would finish the tournament at -4, good for a tie for 14th place. The two strokes cost him a Top 6 finish and more than $300,000 in prize money.
At -6, DeChambeau could’ve banked around $550K. He instead walked away with $234,325.
DeChambeau pleaded his case to officials on the course. He reportedly asked for presidential intervention.
Bryson DeChambeau asked for Donald Trump’s help.
Bob Harig of The Daily Drive says that DeChambeau asked if he could call the President. He was not given the option.
As part of his nearly 30-minute meeting with R&A officials and rules officials after being told he had violated Rule 8.1 on the fifth hole, DeChambeau reportedly asked if he could call President Trump to see if he could be of any help.
-Bob Harig / The Daily Drive
The optics are poor, regardless of whether you agree or disagree with the penalty ruling. It comes off desperate. Given the golf world’s view of the LIV star, it’s just not the best look.
Would it have helped? Maybe. Maybe not.
Earlier this summer, Donald Trump played a role in having a World Cup suspension overturned. He made a call to FIFA president Gianni Infantino in support of star player Folarin Balogun.
FIFA initially said the red card received in Team USA’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina could not be changed. Pressure from the White House impacted decision making. Balogun was able to suit up the next game.
Bryson DeChambeau has a personal relationship with Trump. The two golf together. The President’s been featured on DeChambeau’s YouTube channel.
He tried to lean on that relationship for preferential treatment. It didn’t work. Bryson DeChambeau could not change his two-stroke penalty. He’s only provided more fuel for his haters.