The Open 2026: Scottie Scheffler says Bryson DeChambeau is “definitely not a cheater” as two-shot penalty is discussed

World number one Scotty Scheffler insists Bryson DeChambeau is “definitely not a cheater” as talk of a rules incident overshadowed The Open.

DeChambeau was A two-shot penalty was awarded after Friday’s second round When he was judged to have inadvertently improved his swing path on the fifth hole.

Officials at the R&A, which hosts The Open, said DeChambeau broke the rules by stepping into the knee-high rough behind his ball.

The R&A insisted that DeChambeau’s actions were accidental but pointed out that the rule still applied.

The 32-year-old American thought a round of 66 had left him a shot off the lead at the halfway stage, but his hopes of lifting the claret jug were thwarted by a penalty.

DeChambeau felt he was treated unfairly and, after rounds of 69 and 72 over the weekend, finished six shots behind eventual champion Ryan Fox.

After Sunday’s final round, DeChambu, who has not spoken to the media all week, declined to comment again.

“I never once saw him cheat, whether it was our putting or chipping contest or when we played amateur golf, I never saw anything suspicious,” said fellow American Scheffler, who was playing with DeChambeau when the incident occurred.

“When you see him there from the camera angle, maybe he was touchless around his balls, but I don’t think he did anything on purpose.”