Scottie Scheffler defended Bryson DeChambeau following a controversial two-shot penalty at the 2026 Open Championship. Scheffler said DeChambeau is not a cheater but called for stricter rules enforcement in golf.
Scottie Scheffler addressed questions about Bryson DeChambeau’s penalty during his post-round press conference on Sunday night at Royal Birkdale. DeChambeau received the penalty after his round for improving the conditions of his swing from deep fescue on the fifth hole.
Scheffler said he has known DeChambeau for a long time and has never seen him cheat in any setting. He added that DeChambeau may have been a touch careless but did not act intentionally.
Scheffler also urged stricter policing of rules across professional golf. He noted that players sometimes push boundaries further than they should and called for a return to the game’s traditions while acknowledging the challenges of camera scrutiny on star players.