Bryson DeChambeau turned in a brilliant 4-under 66 on Friday at Royal Birkdale, pulling within one stroke of leader Lucas Herbert at The Open Championship. But instead of celebrating his resurgence, the big-hitting American is once again under fire—this time over accusations that he cheated during the round.
Fescue Controversy Erupts
Video footage posted on social media shows DeChambeau walking into the thick fescue to play a shot. Critics argue he deliberately stamped down the grass behind his ball to clear a path for his backswing, effectively improving his lie. The clip, shared by user @MrFeeny7, has ignited a firestorm among golf fans and analysts.
“He improved his backswing clearance… so yes he cheated,” one fan declared on X. Another asked, “Are we turning a blind eye to Bryson Cheating stamping down long grass that would impede his down swing?” A third compared him to Patrick Reed, saying, “Definitely stepped on it to help himself. Very Patrick Reed of him.”
Not everyone is convinced it was intentional. “Did he purposely step there to knock down the crap on his backswing? Probably. But it also was a pretty natural path to his ball and where else is he supposed to step to get there?” one user argued.
DeChambeau's Rocky Road to Royal Birkdale
The cheating allegations come just as DeChambeau seemed to be turning his season around. He missed the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, and U.S. Open, leaving many to write him off. But after opening with a 67 and following it with a 66, he’s suddenly in contention for the Claret Jug.
Still, the whispers haven’t stopped. Before the tournament even began, six-time major winner Nick Faldo took a sharp jab at DeChambeau’s strategy. “I’d say it to his face — DeChambeau has zero clue of strategy,” Faldo told OutKick. “He said last year: ‘I’m going to go out and attack the links’. Well, I’ve never attacked a links [course]. You thread it, don’t you? You feed it down the fairway.”
Golf analyst Brandel Chamblee piled on, saying, “It’s almost like he went from chasing Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy to chasing Grant Horvat. It’s like he wants to outdo every YouTuber in the game of golf instead of outplay everybody in the game of golf.”
What Happens If He Wins?
If DeChambeau manages to hold on and win The Open, it would be a stunning reversal of fortune—and a direct rebuke to his many doubters. But the controversy over the fescue incident may linger. The R&A has not commented on the video, and no penalty has been assessed. However, the debate over whether DeChambeau should face a penalty continues to rage online.
Some fans have even called for extraordinary measures, with one petition demanding that President Trump overrule any potential penalty. Meanwhile, other contenders like Jordan Spieth have seen their hopes dashed by a disastrous putting performance, leaving the door open for DeChambeau.
For now, the 2026 Open Championship remains wide open—and so does the debate over whether Bryson DeChambeau played fair.
