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President Donald Trump has no authority over the Open Championship, but golf fans still called on him to help Bryson DeChambeau after a controversial two-stroke penalty at Royal Birkdale.
Bryson DeChambeau’s relationship with President Donald Trump became part of the conversation Friday after a controversial ruling changed the Open Championship leaderboard. DeChambeau appeared to finish his second round at 7-under following a 4-under 66. That score would have left the two-time U.S. Open champion alone in second place, only one stroke behind leader Lucas Herbert.
Nearly two hours after DeChambeau left the 18th green, the R&A assessed him a two-stroke penalty for improving the area of his intended backswing on the fifth hole. The ruling changed his second-round score to a 68 and dropped him to 5-under, three shots behind Herbert.
The controversy quickly reached social media, where fans jokingly urged Trump to contact the R&A and get the penalty removed.
Why fans want Donald Trump to call the R&A
Trump and DeChambeau have developed a public friendship through their shared interest in golf. DeChambeau has played with Trump and featured him in a 2024 episode of his popular “Break 50” YouTube series. The video received millions of views and showed the two working together in a scramble format at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
The LIV Golf star has also appeared alongside Trump at multiple golf events. That relationship led fans to suggest Trump could make a call on DeChambeau’s behalf before the third round.
During his exchange with the rules official at the 5th hole, Bryson DeChambeau appeared to threaten not to play tomorrow.
When walking back into scoring a reporter asked if he is playing tomorrow.
He said nothing, smiled, and kept walking into scoring. pic.twitter.com/kT4qOjU7eA
“Donald Trump needs to make a call on this Bryson DeChambeau ruling,” one social media user wrote.
Another predicted that Trump would get the penalty removed before Saturday morning. There is no indication Trump plans to contact the R&A, and he has no official role in the organization’s rules process. The social media reaction was largely playful, but it was not created without context.
Donald Trump recently requested another sports review
Trump recently became involved in a major ruling during the 2026 World Cup. The president contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino after U.S. men’s national team forward Folarin Balogun received a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
Trump said he did not demand that FIFA overturn the decision. He only asked Infantino to review it.
“All I did was ask for a review,” Trump said. “I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this.’”
That incident immediately came to mind after DeChambeau received his Open Championship penalty. Still, calling Infantino and contacting the R&A would be two entirely separate situations. The R&A administers the Open Championship and applies the Rules of Golf. Any review would have to come through the tournament’s official process.
MORE: Who is Lucas Herbert? Meet the Australian LIV Golf star leading the 2026 Open Championship
Why was Bryson DeChambeau penalized?
DeChambeau’s drive on the par-4 fifth hole landed in thick fescue. Video showed him taking practice swings and moving through the long grass before playing his second shot. Officials ruled that he bent or moved grass located in the area of his intended backswing.
“Bryson has been penalized two strokes for inadvertently improving the area of his intended backswing on the fifth hole,” an R&A spokesperson said.
Rule 8.1 prevents a golfer from improving conditions affecting a stroke by moving, bending or breaking a growing natural object. Intent is not required for a penalty.
DeChambeau strongly disputed the ruling during an animated conversation with officials. At one point, he appeared to suggest that he would not return for the third round. His agent later said DeChambeau had not decided whether to continue. DeChambeau eventually went to the driving range and practiced late into Friday evening.
DeChambeau remains only three strokes behind Herbert, giving him a legitimate opportunity to win the Claret Jug if he returns Saturday. Trump may receive plenty of requests to get involved before then. The R&A, however, will have the final word.
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