DeChambeau wanted Trump to intervene in Open controversy
Bryson DeChambeau wanted to involve United States President Donald Trump in his rules controversy at The Open.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 some long grass on Royal Birkdale's fifth hole.It is understood that DeChambeau threatened to call Trump during lengthy discussions with the R&A regarding the penalty, which dropped him from second place and two off the lead on Friday.The golfer 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 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, and DeChambeau wanted a similar intervention.While the call did not take place at the time, it is not known whether DeChambeau made contact privately, but 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," he told BBC Sport."Irrespective of which player this affected, it is the same decision – from a rules perspective it was clear cut."It is understood that after his round on Saturday DeChambeau visited Darbon in the championship office where his request to gain possession of his scorecard from the previous day was declined.The R&A did not comment on either issue.DeChambeau finished 14th, six shots behind champion Ryan Fox, and refused to speak to the waiting media for the eighth successive major round.He posted on Instagram: "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 @ryanfoxgolfer on an incredible win!"
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