Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, has stated that Bryson DeChambeau is “definitely not a cheater” following a rules incident at The Open. DeChambeau received a two-shot penalty after the second round for inadvertently improving his swing path on the fifth hole, an action that was judged to have trampled down knee-high rough behind his ball.
The R&A, organisers of The Open, confirmed that DeChambeau’s actions were accidental but maintained that the rule still applied. This penalty significantly impacted DeChambeau’s standing, as a round of 66 would have placed him a shot off the lead at the halfway point. He ultimately finished six shots behind the eventual champion, Ryan Fox, after subsequent rounds of 69 and 72.
Reaction to the penalty
DeChambeau expressed feeling unfairly treated by the decision. Despite initial doubts about whether he would continue playing, he later indicated that the incident would “fire” him up for the weekend. He did not speak to the media throughout the week, including after the final round.
Scheffler, who played with DeChambeau when the incident occurred, defended his fellow American. “I’ve never seen him cheat once, whether we were having a putting or chipping contest, or anytime we played amateur golf, I never saw anything suspicious,” Scheffler commented. He added that while DeChambeau might have been “a touch careless around his ball,” he did not believe the actions were intentional.
The R&A chief executive, Mark Darbon, described the two-shot penalty as a “clear-cut decision from a rules perspective.” However, this did not prevent DeChambeau from complaining about the ruling.
Rory McIlroy, who admitted he is “not fond of” DeChambeau, stated there was “no doubt” that DeChambeau had improved the line of his backswing. McIlroy also accused his rival of “holding the Open hostage” due to the commotion surrounding the penalty. He watched the incident live and, along with other players, felt it “didn’t seem right.” McIlroy believed the two-shot penalty was justified, regardless of whether the action was careless or intentional.
The controversy also led to delays in announcing third-round tee times, which affected other competitors such as Marco Penge and Justin Thomas. McIlroy found this situation unacceptable, suggesting DeChambeau’s actions were “performative” and for attention. DeChambeau was seen hitting balls on the Royal Birkdale driving range late into the evening but avoided speaking to the media.
Continued discussion and support
Despite the controversy, DeChambeau received a warm reception from the Birkdale crowd during his third round, although some isolated shouts inferring he was a “cheat” were heard. Scheffler rejected this notion, reiterating, “he’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater.”
Scheffler also suggested that video replays, depending on the camera angles, could make reviews less conclusive. He advocated for a return to the traditions of the game and potentially stricter policing of rules.
After completing his third round, DeChambeau reportedly went to the R&A tournament offices to speak with Mark Darbon, where he is understood to have requested his physical scorecard from day two. Darbon is said to have politely declined this request. DeChambeau continued to bypass waiting media members for a third consecutive day.
Fellow American Max Homa offered support for DeChambeau, stating he did not agree with the ruling based on the single angle he saw. Homa added, “I’ve known Bryson for a very long time and he’s an interesting human at times, but I know he would never cheat the game of golf.”
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Source: bbc.co.uk