Scottie Scheffler has finally spoken out about Bryson DeChambeau’s controversial two-shot penalty at the 154th Open Championship.
DeChambeau became the center of attention at Royal Birkdale after the R&A ruled that he had inadvertently improved the area of his intended swing on the fifth hole during the second round. The decision resulted in a two-shot penalty, dropping him down the leaderboard and sparking one of the biggest debates of the championship.
Speaking after the tournament, Scheffler admitted he had deliberately waited until the event was over before sharing his thoughts.
“I’ve known Bryson for a long time,” Scheffler said. “He’s a lot of things, but he’s definitely not a cheater. I’ve never seen him cheat once.”
While Scheffler stopped short of criticizing the R&A’s ruling, he suggested DeChambeau may have been “a touch careless” around the ball but stressed there was no evidence of intentional wrongdoing.
The reigning World No. 1 also acknowledged the challenges officials face in the modern game, noting that television camera angles can sometimes make incidents appear different from what players and referees see on the course.
At the same time, Scheffler believes golf may need stricter enforcement of the Rules of Golf to maintain the integrity of the sport.
“I feel like at times players push it a little further than they should,” he said. “Maybe we need to get back to the traditions of the game and police things a little more strictly.”
Despite the controversy surrounding the incident, Scheffler made it clear his opinion of DeChambeau has not changed.
“Bryson is not a cheater,” he reiterated.
DeChambeau ultimately chose to continue in the championship after initially expressing frustration over the ruling, finishing tied for 14th at Royal Birkdale as Ryan Fox claimed the Claret Jug.