President Donald Trump described the two-stroke penalty issued to golfer Bryson DeChambeau at The Open as a "tough call." DeChambeau faced criticism and a penalty after an incident on the fifth hole during the second round, where he was perceived to have altered the lie of his ball in the rough.
Trump, speaking to reporters on Friday, noted that he saw DeChambeau searching for his ball in the weeds. "I thought it was a tough call against him," Trump said, adding that he observed many people looking for their balls in similar conditions.
DeChambeau had reportedly sought Trump's intervention or advice following the penalty. The former president clarified that he does not act as a "fixer" for athletes but acknowledged the situation by comparing it to another instance involving FIFA. Trump mentioned that he had asked for a review of a red card suspension for USMNT player Folarin Balogun, stating that the subsequent FIFA decision worked out "brilliantly" in that case. However, the USMNT ultimately lost to Belgium without Balogun, ending their World Cup run.
Despite the two-stroke penalty at The Open, DeChambeau remained in contention until a triple bogey on the 11th hole during the final round. He finished the tournament tied for 14th place with a score of 4 under par. The Open was the only major championship this season where DeChambeau made the cut.
