Dave Portnoy just jumped into golf’s biggest beef, making it crystal clear he’s riding with Rory McIlroy after a wild rules decision at The Open Championship. The Barstool Sports founder didn’t hold back, fully backing McIlroy and everything he said about Bryson DeChambeau following the controversial moment. Portnoy even questioned if DeChambeau’s whole public persona is even real.
Portnoy Goes All-In on McIlroy’s Side
This isn’t some quiet endorsement, folks. Portnoy, never one to shy away from a hot take, went all-in on McIlroy’s side on “Wake Up Barstool” and Fox Sports 1. He absolutely hammered DeChambeau, calling him “smoke and mirrors” and accusing him of trying to “intentionally craft an image.” Portnoy was hyped about the drama, too, saying, “I agree with everything that Rory is saying… I like bad blood in golf. I like Bryson vs. Rory. If you don’t like Rory that’s fine, but I don’t think Rory is performative at all.” This is big, adding a massive voice to a rivalry that’s already way more personal than your typical golf disagreement.
The Open Penalty That Ignited Everything
So what set all this off? DeChambeau got hit with a two-stroke penalty during the second round of The Open. The dude was playing from some tall grass and, according to the officials, he improved the area of his backswing. But it wasn’t just the penalty, it was what came next. DeChambeau tried to challenge the ruling, which apparently dragged things out and actually delayed the tournament’s conclusion. McIlroy was absolutely furious about it, and he wasn’t quiet. He watched the whole thing live with other players, saying they immediately suspected a rules violation when DeChambeau “stepped into the ball and altered the grass affecting his backswing.” Rory believes there’s “no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing,” adding that it doesn’t matter “whether it was careless or whether it was intentional.” He even said he hoped it was accidental but still totally agreed with the two-shot penalty. McIlroy slammed DeChambeau’s actions, stating, “To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.” He publicly admitted he’s “not particularly fond” of DeChambeau and accused him of being performative and seeking attention. Yeah, “hostage” is a strong word, and it shows you how personal this rivalry has gotten.
This whole drama at The Open created a super dramatic end to the year’s final major, and it ripped open that old wound between these two stars. With Portnoy now backing Rory so hard, you know this feud is only going to get crazier. Keep an eye on these guys, because this isn’t settling down anytime soon.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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