Trump speaks out on Bryson DeChambeau's controversial two-stroke penalty at The Open: 'Tough call'

Bryson DeChambeau was fixed a arguable two-stroke punishment astatine The Open past week, and President Donald Trump said it was a "tough call."

DeChambeau reportedly wanted to scope retired to Trump for assistance aft the LIV Golf prima was engaged successful a heated speech with rules officials astatine The Open. The president didn’t intervene but sympathized with DeChambeau erstwhile asked astir it this week.

"I thought the Bryson telephone was a pugnacious call," Trump told reporters successful the Oval Office connected Friday.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

President Donald Trump speaks astatine Wheeler High School connected Wednesday, July 22, 2026, successful Marietta, Ga. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

"I saw him walking around. I spot a batch of radical determination walking astir looking for their shot successful weeds. Okay. But I've been watching that, so, you know, I thought it was a pugnacious telephone against him."

On the 5th spread during DeChambeau’s 2nd circular astatine The Open, helium appeared to beryllium walking done the weeds, stomping connected the unsmooth down him and causing it to prevarication level for his plaything retired of the rough. Following the round, helium went backmost retired to the precocious fescue and pleaded his lawsuit to rules officials, but to nary avail.

After getting progressive with FIFA suspending Folarin Balogun’s reddish paper for the USMNT’s Round of 16 matchup against Belgium, and present with DeChambeau reaching out, Trump was asked if determination was precedent for idiosyncratic successful his presumption to go a fixer for athletes.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States speaks to a rules bureau earlier playing his changeable connected the 18th spread during the 3rd time of the British Open Golf Championship astatine Royal Birkdale Golf Club successful Southport, England, connected Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Peter Morrison/AP)

"Well, it's not a fixer. You mean being a judge," Trump said.

Trump compared DeChambeau’s concern with Balgoun’s and said the reddish paper being suspended by FIFA worked retired "brilliantly."

"I thought the reddish paper was a precise pugnacious call, and it worked retired brilliantly. Look, supposing that they didn't fto him play and we lost, everyone would person been angry, right? The mode it was that they mislaid with their champion player. Now everyone's happy, including Belgium. Of course, they mislaid the adjacent game, truthful they mightiness not that happy, either.

"But it worked retired great. (Gianni Infantino) did a bully occupation successful making that call. All I did, I asked for a review. I thought that telephone was not a bully call."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Bryson DeChambeau of the United States rides successful a buggy with a rules authoritative pursuing the 2nd circular of The 154th Open Championship astatine Royal Birkdale successful Southport, England, connected July 17, 2026. (Richard Heathcote/Reuters)

While Balogun was capable to play, the USMNT mislaid 4-1 to Belgium, ending their World Cup tally successful the Round of 16.

As for DeChambeau, helium remained successful the hunt contempt the two-stroke punishment until helium triple-bogeyed the 11th spread successful the last circular connected Sunday, efficaciously taking him retired of contention.

DeChambeau finished 4 nether for The Open, tied for 14th. The Open was the lone large title astatine which DeChambeau made the chopped this season.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.