A viral video has sparked controversy surrounding golfer Bryson DeChambeau following an encounter with a volunteer at The Open Championship in Northern Ireland.
The American professional, who has cultivated an image as the "people's champ", faced widespread condemnation after dismissing an unpaid helper who was assisting in locating his errant shot.
The incident has prompted accusations of hypocrisy from supporters who previously celebrated DeChambeau's connection with ordinary fans.
Critics have highlighted the stark contrast between his carefully crafted public persona and his treatment of the volunteer during the tournament, where he ultimately secured a joint tenth-place finish behind winner Scottie Scheffler.
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|A viral video has sparked controversy surrounding golfer Bryson DeChambeau following an encounter with a volunteer at The Open Championship in Northern Ireland
The footage captures DeChambeau's frustration after striking an errant shot into thick rough during the weekend's play. The 31-year-old's ball had veered off course, prompting him to march towards the area where it had disappeared.
An unpaid volunteer had positioned themselves in the tall grass, gesturing towards the probable landing spot of the wayward ball.
Rather than acknowledging the assistance, DeChambeau approached and instructed the helper: "You can move out of the way."
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Bryson getting some heat for how he treated this ball spotter at The Open.
— Rick Golfs (@Top100Rick) July 22, 2025
“You can move out of the way” maybe 1 second after the guy points at the ball.
This will add fuel to the guys who think Bryson is a fake.
Watch to the end to see the comments, the people are not… pic.twitter.com/IdlR9opLdb
The two-time US Open champion's curt dismissal of the volunteer was recorded and subsequently circulated online, drawing immediate criticism from golf enthusiasts who had previously supported him.
The online response was swift and overwhelmingly negative, with golf enthusiasts expressing their disappointment across social media platforms.
One observer commented: "Treating a volunteer poorly will always suck," whilst another condemned the incident more forcefully, stating: "Poor volunteer getting that treatment from someone who's supposed to be a professional and role model. Disgusting behaviour."
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Additional criticism included remarks such as "Wow what a jerk" and "This is pathetic behaviour."
The backlash was particularly notable given DeChambeau's previous efforts to endear himself to spectators, including a recent gesture where he switched from an iron to a driver after hearing crowd disapproval.
Not all reactions were critical, however. Some defenders emerged, with one supporter remarking: "Look at all these haters."
The tournament concluded with DeChambeau sharing tenth position, falling short of challenging for the title in Northern Ireland.
His performance placed him well behind the eventual victor, American compatriot Scottie Scheffler, who claimed the championship.
Meanwhile, DeChambeau opened up on the upcoming Ryder Cup - with the 31-year-old admitting Team USA are 'tired of losing'.
Reuters |
Bryson DeChambeau was unable to compete with Scottie Scheffler for glory at The Open
"This year's no joke. We're tired of it. We're tired of losing," DeChambeau told reporters after his final round.
The American golfer also promised to bring "a tsunami of a crowd" supporting Team USA, emphasising the squad's determination to reclaim the trophy after Europe's victory in Rome in 2023.
Team USA last triumphed in 2021.