The Bryson DeChambeau drama did not relent at The Open on Saturday evening…
Bryson DeChambeau headed for The Open’s Championship office immediately after Saturday’s third round as the drama engulfing the American continued at Royal Birkdale.
The two-time US Open champion, who now sits four shots behind leader Sam Burns, had again snubbed reporters for interviews. DeChambeau went to speak with Mark Darbon, the R&A’s chief executive, in the office situated just behind the 18th green.
It’s understood that DeChambeau was requesting his scorecard from his Friday round, in which he shot a 66 that was quickly turned into a 68 after he was handed a dramatic two-shot penalty.
His request for the physical scorecard was declined as it is against policy.
DeChambeau has not spoken with media at Birkdale, so there is no indication why he wanted the card. He had been docked two shots after an incident on the fifth hole of his second round, where he was deemed to have “inadvertently” altered the path of his backswing after his drive found the native area on the short par-4. His 66 became a 68 after his bogey-five was changed to a triple-bogey seven.
On a frenzied Saturday, DeChambeau left the Championship Office and is understood to have headed back to the recorder’s tent – where he had just signed for a one-under par 69 – and made the same request, which also fell on deaf ears. DeChambeau then breezed past reporters once more on his way to the driving range, wailed away at balls for several minutes before signing autographs for excitable fans.
It came just hours after Rory McIlroy had called DeChambeau “performative” for his antics amid those extraordinary scenes on Friday evening. McIlroy accused DeChambeau of taking the tournament ‘hostage’ after he dragged rules officials out to the fifth hole to contest the penalty.
“I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I’m not particularly fond of him,” said the Masters champion after his Saturday round of 69, which left him eight shots behind Burns.
“I think a lot of it’s performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention. To hold the tournament hostage like that, and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look.”
McIlroy was asked whether DeChambeau’s actions were intentional. “I’m not in his mind,” he said, “but it didn’t look good.”
DeChambeau received overwhelming support throughout his round at a brimming Birkdale. He earned a rapturous applause on the first tee and was told by many to “stick it” to the R&A on the baked-out course. But there was also a vocal minority targeting DeChambeau. On the 18th hole, his playing partner Burns had to step away from his birdie putt as a fan in the grandstand shouted: “Bryson, you’re a cheat.”
It is extraordinary in itself that Burns is playing in this Open, never mind leading it. Just five days ago his participation appeared in doubt as his second child was due on Tuesday. Burns admitted after his sublime third-round 65 that he had been expecting to withdraw. His baby daughter, though, was born a fortnight early and Burns made it to Merseyside, without any expectations.
And with a two-shot lead over Ryan Fox, Si Woo Kim, and a chasing pack that also includes Ryan Gerard, Ludvig Aberg, and Lucas Herbert, Burns suddenly has a golden chance to win the Claret Jug.
Still, the main focus at Birkdale surrounded the inimitable maverick DeChambeau.
“I thought the fans were very supportive of Bryson today,” Burns said. “In my personal opinion, I honestly feel bad for Bryson in the situation that he was in. From my perspective, I didn’t feel like maybe there was enough evidence for him to deserve a penalty there.
“I feel bad for him. He played an incredible round of golf late yesterday, and it’s unfortunate to have something kind of like that where they come in after your round and tell you you’re being docked two shots. But props to him.
“He came out and played a really nice round of golf today, and that takes a lot of grit to be able to come out and do that. So I was impressed.”
