Bryson DeChambeau forfeited nearly $280,000 in potential prize money at The Open Championship due to a two-shot penalty assessed during the second round. The penalty, given after DeChambeau was deemed to have improved his lie by trampling grass behind his ball, caused him to slip down the leaderboard.
DeChambeau finished the tournament tied for 14th place, earning $234,325. Had he avoided the penalty and finished two shots better, he would have tied for sixth place, a result that would have yielded $514,212. The difference represents a loss of $279,887.
During the incident at Royal Birkdale, DeChambeau protested his innocence and reportedly threatened to withdraw from the major championship. He also suggested he would contact then-US President Donald Trump, a friend, to intervene. However, the penalty was not overturned, and the White House did not get involved.
Rory McIlroy, who was competing in the same event, offered a critical assessment of DeChambeau's actions. "We all sort of looked at each other and we were like, 'That didn't seem right,'" McIlroy said, referring to the moment DeChambeau made a step into the area behind his ball. He added that DeChambeau's subsequent actions, which caused delays for other players, volunteers, and officials, "didn't feel like it was a great look."
Scottie Scheffler, another competitor, defended DeChambeau, stating he was not a "cheat." DeChambeau, a two-time U.S. Open champion, joined LIV Golf on a contract reportedly worth $125 million after earning $37.2 million on the PGA Tour. He finished the tournament with Ryan Fox winning The Open Championship.
