Open fans offer a valuable lesson on Bryson DeChambeau’s treatment

SOUTHPORT, England – You may have been wondering: Could Bryson DeChambeau be at the 154th British Open what Wyndham Clark was at the 118th US Open, last month at Shinnecock Hills? You know, fans of the player love to abuse?

This boils down to the bone and then some, but if you look at their original sins, there are similarities. Clark’s first crime was going to the locker at Oakmont Country Club, site of the 2025 US Open, the USGA’s premier annual event. DeChambeau’s was hitting all over the deep fescue rough, right behind his ball, on the right side of the fifth hole, here at Royal Birkdale, site of this year’s Open Championship, the R&A’s premier annual event. These were not the actions, and these were not the characters, in the Bobby Jones/Jack Nicklaus Establishment Golfer’s playbooks. Like, the complete opposite.

We all know how Clark, in the last round of the US Open this year, playing Scottie Scheffler in the final of the day, was treated with ridicule by the fans. In the history of the British Open, there is no time for similar behavior, not even closing.

British Open fans are often celebrated by players and broadcasters for being the most knowledgeable fans in the world, more than the spectators who gather at the Masters each year to drink high tea and make a pitch at Amen Corner. And yet, R&A leaders felt compelled to issue an unprecedented pre-tournament speech to fans this year. In a press release, they identified it as follows:

Respect the players;
Respect links;
Respect each other;
Be careful;
Enjoy responsibly.
That’s about perfection.
And the timing was right, what with DeChambeau, on Friday night, saying he may withdraw from the tournament due to two fines handed down to him by the R&A, the proud and talented presenters of the tournament. Rory McIlroy, the ultimate Establishment Golfer these days, accused DeChambeau of “seeking attention.” He called his actions “effective.” He said DeChambeau was hosting a “tournament of a tournament” with his maybe-I’ll-play, maybe-I-won’t-sleep song Friday night.
Eventually, of course, DeChambeau decided to show up for his weekend rounds. Yes, he got to play one of the best courses in the world, in light wind and two beautiful summer afternoons, with no green fees. In fact, he stood to make huge sums of money, even after turning down a not-for-profit group, the R&A, that would pay him. And it all made you wonder: Can these Open fans give Bryson DeChambeau the Wyndham Clark treatment?
No. Not even close. None of them. It’s not based on the crowd’s reaction to DeChambeau. (I’m polite, at least.) Not based on the comments of two staunch fans, two friends who have been watching golf for 50 years, Nigel Chambers from England and John Rowles from Wales.

“What they did at the US Open with Clark was disgusting,” said Nigel. “Okay, he broke a 200-year-old locker or something, but he apologized. As for the Ryder Cup, I can’t even watch it anymore.”

“So, yes, now the R&A has issued these Codes of Conduct. You wouldn’t think they were necessary, but maybe they are.”

“People who need a Code of Conduct won’t read it,” said John. “All they have to do is get yellow card warnings and red cards for the fans: yellow if you get the first warning, red means you’re out. Give all the marshals to distribute.”

“As for DeChambeau, say what you will about him, no one has questioned his integrity as a golfer, as far as I know,” said Nigel. “That would be the main reason why you won’t hear any of that Clark nonsense directed at Bryson. I think he could have handled the whole thing with a little more grace, but it won’t affect the way he’s treated here. I think he’s more popular with the fans than some of the pros he’s working with.”
Nigel agreed. They brought up Seve Ballesteros, a beloved Spanish golfer who often argued with golf course officials, “arguing that his ball was in a rabbit hole or something and that he deserved to be dropped. Sometimes he got them, sometimes he didn’t. He was always popular.”
They went back to the subject they are in charge of, Bryson DeChambeau.
“We do that, we usually respect the people in charge in this country,” said Nigel. “What DeChambeau did was inappropriate. But he will not be held in contempt for it.”
And he didn’t.

Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com.

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