Bryson DeChambeau received a controversial two-stroke penalty during The Open last week, a decision that President Donald Trump called a "tough call." Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, July 25, 2026.

The penalty stemmed from an incident on the fifth hole during DeChambeau’s second round, where he appeared to walk through the weeds and stomp on the rough behind him, causing it to lie flat for his swing out of the rough. This action led to the penalty being assessed.

DeChambeau reportedly sought to reach out to Trump for assistance after a heated exchange with rules officials at The Open. While the president did not intervene, he expressed sympathy for the LIV Golf star when asked about the situation.

Trump also referenced his prior involvement in sports-related rulings, such as FIFA suspending Folarin Balogun’s red card for the USMNT’s Round of 16 match against Belgium. When asked if there was precedent for someone in his position to act as a fixer for athletes, Trump responded, "Well, it's not a fixer. You mean being a judge."

Additionally, Trump praised Gianni Infantino for handling the FIFA call well, noting, "All I did, I asked for a review. I thought that call was not a good call. But it worked out great."

President Trump’s comments came shortly after he spoke at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, on July 22, 2026.

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