Bryson DeChambeau accused of threatening to involve Trump in Open rules dispute

Bryson DeChambeau has been accused of wanting to involve United States President Donald Trump during his rules controversy at The Open, multiple media reports have claimed.

The two-time major winner was handed a two-shot penalty late on Friday night after officials reviewed footage and decided he had improved the area of his backswing by flattening down long grass on Royal Birkdale's fifth hole.

Multiple reports claim DeChambeau allegedly threatened to call Trump during lengthy discussions with the R&A regarding the penalty, which dropped him from second place and one off the lead on Friday to tied-fifth and three shots back.

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Background and Reactions

DeChambeau is a friend of Trump, serving on the President's council on sports, fitness and nutrition, making his last White House appearance in May, and has played golf with him.

Trump previously asked football's world governing body FIFA to review the red card shown to US forward Folarin Balogun during the World Cup, with the player's one-match ban subsequently being suspended. DeChambeau reportedly wanted a similar intervention.

While the call did not take place at the time, it is not known whether DeChambeau made contact privately. 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. Irrespective of which player this affected, it is the same decision – from a rules perspective it was clear cut." — Mark Darbon, R&A chief executive, speaking to BBC Sport

Sky Sports News has contacted the R&A, the White House press office and DeChambeau's management team for comment.

Further Developments

Sky Sports News understands that DeChambeau visited Darbon in the championship office after his third round on Saturday, where his request to gain possession of his scorecard from the previous day was declined. The R&A has yet to comment on that issue.

DeChambeau is next scheduled to feature at the LIV Golf League event in England, beginning at JCB Golf and Country Club on Thursday, although he is not listed for any pre-tournament media.

'A Lot of Ups and Downs' – DeChambeau Reflects on Challenging Week

DeChambeau making it through to the weekend ended a run of three consecutive major missed cuts and avoided the 'Bryson Slam' of missing all four in a season. He eventually finished tied-14th, six strokes behind winner Ryan Fox.

The American refused to speak to the waiting media for the eighth successive major round, having also not given post-round interviews during his missed cuts at the PGA Championship and US Open.

"A lot of ups and downs this week, to say the least. But I'm proud of the way I fought through it. Thank you to all my supporters for carrying me through. Onwards and upwards from here. Congratulations to Ryan." — Bryson DeChambeau, via Instagram