Bryson DeChambeau Avoids Cheater Label from Scottie Scheffler

Bryson DeChambeau Avoids Cheater Label from Scottie Scheffler

Bryson DeChambeau was handed a two-shot penalty during his second round at The Open on 19 July 2026.

Scottie Scheffler has defended Bryson DeChambeau over his rules controversy at The Open, insisting the two-time US Open champion is 'not a cheater'.

What happened?

DeChambeau dominated headlines at Royal Birkdale during the final men's major of the year, where he appeared to be within a shot of the halfway lead before being handed a two-shot penalty after his second round.

The LIV Golf League star was adjudged to have improved the line of his backswing in long grass at the par-four fifth, turning his bogey into a triple-bogey seven, with DeChambeau involved in heated discussions with rules officials late into Friday evening.

Why it matters for Bryson DeChambeau

Scheffler, who finished tied-fourth at The Open, gave his verdict on the incident and how the rules of golf are enforced after his tied-fourth finish at Royal Birkdale.

"I've known him [DeChambeau] for a long time and he's a lot of things, but he's definitely not a cheater," Scheffler told reporters.

"I've never seen him cheat once. Whether we were having a putting contest on the putting green or chipping contest, or anytime we played amateur golf, I never saw anything suspicious."

What comes next?

Scheffler held off talking about the incident after his third round but gave his views on the final day, with the world No 1 questioning whether there are different ways to enforce the rules.

"I think maybe we need to be a little bit more strict in the way that we are policing guys," Scheffler explained.

"It's a little bit of a balance because you've got certain guys like Bryson, who every shot he hits is going to be shown on TV.

"When you have camera angles that are far away, things can look different than they do when you're right there. I feel like at times, sometimes you see players maybe push it a little bit further than they should.

"I think we need to get back to the traditions of the game and maybe we do need to police things a little bit more stricter in the game."

Scheffler was aiming to become the first back-to-back winner of The Open since Padraig Harrington but finished three strokes behind Ryan Fox after bogeying the last.

"Today was a great effort," Scheffler insisted. "I felt like I was doing the right things out there. I gave myself a lot of looks again today. I guess it just wasn't my week.

"I got a good break there on 17, but off the tee, it probably should have been in the fairway."

The incident has sparked debate about the rules of golf and how they are enforced, with Scheffler questioning whether there are different ways to police the game.

As for DeChambeau, he has declined to speak to the media after every tournament round but said on social media that the decision 'fired him up' to continue.

Rory McIlroy criticised DeChambeau's "performative" behaviour, which included a lengthy discussion post-round on the course and a late-night range session, although the R&A accepted that his actions were unintentional.

The controversy has highlighted the challenges of enforcing the rules of golf, particularly when it comes to camera angles and the visibility of players' actions.

As the golf world continues to grapple with these issues, one thing is clear: Bryson DeChambeau is not a cheater, according to his friend and fellow golfer Scottie Scheffler.

The two-time US Open champion has been at the centre of controversy at The Open, but Scheffler's defence has helped to clear his name.

The incident has sparked debate about the rules of golf and how they are enforced, but for now, DeChambeau can rest easy knowing that he has the support of his fellow golfers.

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