Bryson DeChambeau received a controversial two-stroke penalty during The Open last week, a decision that has drawn attention beyond the golf world. On Friday, July 25, 2026, President Donald Trump described the penalty as a "tough call" during remarks to reporters in the Oval Office.

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 his ball, causing it to lie flat for his subsequent swing out of the rough.

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

Trump also referenced his prior involvement in sports officiating matters, including FIFA suspending Folarin Balogun’s red card for the USMNT’s Round of 16 match against Belgium. When questioned about the possibility of acting as a fixer for athletes, Trump responded, "Well, it's not a fixer. You mean being a judge."

Photographs from the event show DeChambeau interacting with rules officials during the championship held at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England.

President Trump spoke at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, shortly before his Oval Office comments.

Sources