DeChambeau hit with two-stroke penalty at the Open as jeer from crowd and defences follow
Bryson DeChambeau was assessed a two-stroke penalty for a breach of the rules during round two of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, an episode that drew a vocal reaction from the crowd and public defence from fellow players. A spectator shouted “Bryson, ya cheat,” near the 18th green on Saturday, and by Sunday Scottie Scheffler had publicly defended DeChambeau, saying: “I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater.”
The incident at Royal Birkdale occurred close to the conclusion of play on Saturday, when a lone voice from the stand adjacent to the course’s 18th green directed the jeer at DeChambeau. The two-stroke penalty related to a rules infraction that took place during the second round of the championship. The R&A’s executive director of governance described DeChambeau’s action as “accidental”. No one in authority has actually accused DeChambeau of cheating for the incident which incurred a two-stroke penalty.
The shout from the spectator was an immediate, audible response on the 18th green and was reported in relation to the timing of the penalty situation. The location for the remark is specified as a stand adjacent to Royal Birkdale’s 18th green and the disturbance was noted as taking place close to the end of play on Saturday. The phrase “Bryson, ya cheat,” was captured as a direct expression of disapproval from a member of the crowd.
The rules breach that resulted in the two-stroke penalty was recorded as occurring during round two of the Open Championship. The R&A’s executive director of governance addressed the nature of the action and used the word “accidental” to describe how the breach happened. That characterization from the R&A’s governance official was cited alongside reporting of the penalty.
By Sunday, Scottie Scheffler, identified as the world No 1, spoke in defence of DeChambeau and offered a personal perspective on his character, saying: “I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater.” Scheffler’s remark was reported as a response to the wider reaction surrounding the penalty and the public shout heard on Saturday.
Reporting around the episode noted that no authority had accused DeChambeau of cheating in connection with the round-two incident that led to the two-stroke penalty. The combination of the crowd reaction, the administrative description of the action as “accidental” by the R&A’s executive director of governance, and the public defence by Scheffler were presented together in accounts of the episode at Royal Birkdale.
The events at the Open Championship — the two-stroke penalty during round two, the spectator’s shouted accusation at the 18th green on Saturday, the R&A’s description of the action as “accidental,” and Scottie Scheffler’s defence on Sunday — were the principal facts reported in connection with the episode involving Bryson DeChambeau.