US golfer Bryson DeChambeau has been involved in a high-profile dispute over a two-shot penalty at The Open. The controversy arose after DeChambeau was handed the penalty for improving the area of his backswing by flattening down some long grass on Royal Birkdale's fifth hole. This decision dropped DeChambeau from second place and two off the lead.
According to respected American journalist Geoff Shackelford, DeChambeau had requested to speak to Trump during lengthy discussions with the R&A regarding the penalty. The R&A's chief executive, Mark Darbon, confirmed that no call was made from Trump, stating that the decision was 'clear cut' from a rules perspective. DeChambeau has a history with Trump, serving on the president's council on sports, fitness and nutrition.
The golfer's request for Trump's intervention has raised questions about the influence of high-profile figures in golf and the potential for bias in decision-making. The R&A has maintained that its decisions are made without external influence. DeChambeau finished 14th in the tournament, six shots behind champion Ryan Fox.
DeChambeau chose not to speak to the media for the eighth successive major round, instead posting a message on Instagram thanking his supporters and congratulating the winner.
The incident has sparked debate about the role of external factors in golf tournaments and the need for transparency in decision-making processes.