Scheffler defends DeChambeau amid Open penalty controversy

By Aroha Ngata — 20 July 2026 — 3 min read

World number one Scottie Scheffler has stated that Bryson DeChambeau is “definitely not a cheater,” following a rules incident that overshadowed The Open. DeChambeau received a two-shot penalty after the second round for inadvertently improving his swing path on the fifth hole.

Officials from the R&A, the tournament organisers, confirmed that DeChambeau broke rules by trampling down knee-high rough behind his ball. The R&A clarified that while DeChambeau’s actions were accidental, the rule still applied. The penalty affected DeChambeau’s standing, as a round of 66 would have placed him a shot off the lead at the halfway stage, but his prospects for the Claret Jug were hindered by the ruling.

DeChambeau expressed feeling unfairly treated. After subsequent rounds of 69 and 72 over the weekend, he finished six shots behind the eventual champion, Ryan Fox. DeChambeau did not speak to the media throughout the week, including after Sunday’s final round.

Scheffler’s Defence and McIlroy’s Criticism

Scheffler, who played with DeChambeau during the incident, supported his fellow American. “I’ve never seen him cheat once, whether we were having a putting or chipping contest, or anytime we played amateur golf, I never saw anything suspicious,” Scheffler said. He added that DeChambeau might have been “a touch careless around his ball,” but did not believe he acted intentionally. Scheffler also suggested that video replay angles can be misleading, advocating for a stricter adherence to the game’s traditions.

In contrast, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who admitted he is “not fond of” DeChambeau, stated there was “no doubt” that DeChambeau had improved the line of his backswing. McIlroy accused DeChambeau of “holding the tournament hostage” due to the controversy. He observed the incident live with other players, noting that DeChambeau’s step into the ball “didn’t seem right.” McIlroy believes the two-shot penalty was justified, regardless of whether the action was careless or intentional.

The situation led to delays in announcing tee times for the third round, which did not appear until around 11pm, causing frustration among competitors like Marco Penge and Justin Thomas. McIlroy criticised DeChambeau’s actions as “performative” and designed “for attention,” finding it unacceptable that players and volunteers were left waiting.

Rules Decision and Public Reaction

Mark Darbon, chief executive of the R&A, described the two-shot penalty as a “clear-cut decision from a rules perspective.” Despite the ruling, DeChambeau continued to complain. There was initial uncertainty about whether he would continue playing in the tournament, but he later stated on Friday that the decision would “fire” him up for the weekend.

DeChambeau received a warm reception from the Birkdale crowd during his third round on Saturday, though some isolated shouts inferring he was a “cheat” were heard. During his third round of 69, a loud cry of “Bryson ya cheat” was heard on the final green as his playing partner, Sam Burns, lined up a putt. After completing his round, DeChambeau went directly to the R&A tournament offices to speak with Darbon, reportedly requesting his physical scorecard from day two, which Darbon declined. DeChambeau bypassed waiting media members for the third consecutive day.

Compatriot Max Homa offered support, stating he did not agree with the ruling based on the single angle he saw. Homa added, “I’ve known Bryson for a very long time and he’s an interesting human at times, but I know he would never cheat the game of golf.”

Source: bbc.com