DeChambeau accused of invoking Trump after two-shot Open penalty

Bryson DeChambeau is accused of threatening to call Donald Trump during a dispute with senior R&A officials on Friday after he received a two-shot penalty at the Open. The incident followed his second round and has added another twist to the ongoing controversy surrounding the American golfer.

DeChambeau was handed a two-shot penalty after his second round at the Open, and it is alleged that he used the US president’s name while arguing his case with senior R&A officials. The episode has been described as a bizarre development in what has already become a dominant story of the 2026 Open. Earlier reporting on July 17 outlined how the two-shot penalty left DeChambeau’s participation in doubt, and this latest allegation extends that narrative.

Those close to the situation say the confrontation occurred on Friday as officials were enforcing the penalty, which followed his play in the second round. The accusation centres on an alleged remark in which DeChambeau invoked Donald Trump’s name while disputing the ruling with senior R&A officials. Organisers have not published a detailed account of the exchange beyond confirming the penalty and the subsequent dispute.

The alleged reference to the US president’s name has drawn attention because it represents a departure from the typical exchanges seen during rules discussions at major championships. For the tournament, the incident compounds the headlines already surrounding DeChambeau after the two-shot penalty was assessed. The charge of threatening to contact Donald Trump has not been independently verified in full by tournament authorities in publicly released statements.

Media coverage has tracked the story since the earlier report on July 17 that linked the penalty to questions over DeChambeau’s continued participation in the event. That coverage framed the situation as the dominant story of the 2026 Open, and the fresh allegation about invoking Donald Trump has kept the focus on the American player. No further procedural sanctions beyond the two-shot penalty have been announced by the R&A at this stage.

The accusation that DeChambeau threatened to call Donald Trump while arguing the two-shot penalty is the latest development in an episode that has captured attention at the 2026 Open. It further extends the controversy that began after the penalty was applied following his second round.