London (AFP) – Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to call US president Donald Trump in a bid to resolve his rules row at the British Open. DeChambeau was given a two-shot penalty on Friday after tournament officials ruled he had improved the area of his backswing by flattening down some long grass on Royal Birkdale’s fifth hole. The 32-year-old American is believed to have hinted he would call Trump during lengthy discussions with the officials regarding the penalty, which dropped him from second place and two off the lead on Friday.
The two-time major winner is a friend of Trump, serving on the President’s council on sports, fitness and nutrition, playing golf with him and making an appearance at the White House in May. Trump asked FIFA to review a red card shown to USA forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, and football’s world governing body suspended the player’s one-match ban. DeChambeau wanted a similar intervention, but Trump apparently did not get involved on this occasion.
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It is not known whether DeChambeau made contact with Trump privately, but on Saturday R&A chief executive Mark Darbon was asked whether the President had been in touch. “No, I have not received a call from President Trump,” he told BBC Sport. “Irrespective of which player this affected, it is the same decision – from a rules perspective it was clear cut.”
It is understood that after his round on Saturday, DeChambeau visited Darbon, where his request to gain possession of his scorecard from the previous day was declined. Rory McIlroy responded to DeChambeau’s penalty by calling his rival’s antics “performative.” DeChambeau finished the tournament in 14th place, six shots behind champion Ryan Fox, and refused to speak to the waiting media on Sunday.
“A lot of ups and downs this week, to say the least. But I’m proud of the way I fought through it,” DeChambeau said on Instagram. “Thank you to all my supporters for carrying me through. Onwards and upwards from here. Congratulations to Ryan Fox on an incredible win!”
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