DeChambeau's Open week overshadowed by penalty row and Trump call claim

Bryson DeChambeau closed The Open with a 2-over-par 72 on Sunday, finishing tied for 14th at 4 under par, six shots behind winner Ryan Fox. But the American's week at Royal Birkdale was dominated by a two-shot penalty and a reported appeal to President Donald Trump for help.

The penalty was handed down after Friday's second round for breaching Rule 8.1 by inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing in the long grass. What should have been a 66 became a 68, leaving DeChambeau three shots off the lead and prompting a lengthy dispute with R&A officials.

What happened

According to veteran golf writer Geoff Shackelford, DeChambeau called on President Trump to intervene during talks that lasted over an hour. The discussions involved DeChambeau returning to the fifth hole with R&A officials, then moving to the Recorders' trailer, where he met with chief executive Mark Darbon and championships director Johnnie Cole-Hamilton.

The request and subsequent appeal were denied, and the Guardian reported that DeChambeau asked to keep his signed scorecard. At one stage he threatened to quit the tournament, delaying other players' rounds as Saturday's tee times were not published until almost midnight.

Reaction from fellow players

• World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and Sam Burns defended their countryman's actions.
• Rory McIlroy called DeChambeau's behaviour "performative" and said the delay was "not a great look".
• McIlroy also admitted he is "not particularly fond" of the LIV Golf star.
• DeChambeau declined to speak to the media for the third straight day after his final round.

What's next

The incident adds another chapter to DeChambeau's rocky relationship with golf's traditional establishment, as well as with reporters. With the PGA Tour and LIV Golf still in a fragile truce, the fallout from the Birkdale dispute may linger as the season heads into its autumn stretch.