World number one Scottie Scheffler went all-in defending Bryson DeChambeau, flat-out saying he’s “definitely not a cheater” even after the two-shot penalty controversy at The Open this past Friday. The golf world has been buzzing all weekend about the rules incident that overshadowed a major championship, and Scheffler isn’t shy about where he stands.
Trampling Rough and The R&A’s ‘Clear-Cut’ Call
Talk about a gut punch. Bryson DeChambeau got slammed with a two-shot penalty after his second round on Friday. Why? Officials from the R&A, the folks running The Open, judged he had inadvertently improved his swing path on the fifth hole. The breakdown? He apparently trampled down some knee-high rough behind his ball. The R&A was quick to point out his actions were accidental, but they stuck to their guns: a rule is a rule. R&A chief executive Mark Darbon called it a “clear-cut decision from a rules perspective.” This wasn’t some minor infraction; it flipped what Bryson thought was a sweet round of 66 into a 68, instantly knocking him off the lead at the halfway point. You know that had to sting, completely derailing his Claret Jug dreams right then and there. Bryson himself felt totally unfairly treated by the decision, although he said it would “fire” him up for the weekend rounds.
Scheffler’s Loyalty vs. McIlroy’s ‘Hostage’ Claim
Amidst all this, world number one Scottie Scheffler, who actually played with Bryson when the incident went down, came out swinging in his buddy’s defense. “He’s definitely not a cheater,” Scheffler declared, making it clear he’d “never seen him cheat once,” not even in casual games. He admitted Bryson might have been “a touch careless around his ball,” but firmly believes nothing was intentional. Scheffler even questioned the video replay angles, suggesting they might not be “conclusive,” but then pulled a classic move by adding a call for “stricter” policing of the game’s traditions. Then there’s Rory McIlroy, who isn’t exactly Bryson’s biggest fan,he admitted he’s “not fond off” him. Rory threw a pretty big jab, saying there was “no doubt” Bryson improved his backswing line and accusing his rival of holding The Open “hostage.” Talk about conflicting opinions!
Silence from Bryson, Six Shots Back
DeChambeau, the 32-year-old American, kept totally silent all week, refusing to speak to the media. Even after Sunday’s final round, he wouldn’t say a word. The crowd at Royal Birkdale gave him a warm reception when he teed off for the third round on Saturday, though there were a few isolated shouts inferring he was a “cheat.” Ultimately, the penalty did its damage. Following rounds of 69 and 72 over the weekend, DeChambeau finished six shots adrift of eventual champion Ryan Fox.
The dust might have settled at Royal Birkdale, with Ryan Fox hoisting the Claret Jug, but the debate around Bryson and what constitutes a “cheat” is definitely far from over. Will the R&A tighten up the rules even more, like Scheffler suggested? And how will this incident follow Bryson into his next major appearance? You know everyone will be watching every step.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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