'Clear-cut decision' to punish DeChambeau - R&A boss

The two-shot penalty given to Bryson DeChambeau at the Open Championship was a "clear-cut decision", according to R&A chief executive Mark Darbon.

The American superstar's hopes of lifting the Claret Jug were hampered when he was penalised in dramatic scenes after Friday's second round at Royal Birkdale.

Darbon added he had not been contacted by President Donald Trump, who is close to DeChambeau and controversially asked football governing body Fifa to review United States striker Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension at the World Cup earlier this month.

"It was an unfortunate decision but really clear-cut from a rules perspective," Darbon told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Asked in a light-hearted exchange with BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter if he had been called by Trump, he said: "No. I have not received a call from President Trump and we will see what happens from here."

DeChambeau, 32, looked to have lifted himself to one shot off the lead on Friday - finishing seven under par with a four-under 66 - but was punished after being deemed to have trampled on long grass close to his ball on the fifth hole.

There had been some doubt about whether DeChambeau would continue playing at the tournament, but later on Friday he said the decision would "fire" him up for the weekend.

The two-time US Open champion, who is now three shots behind Australian overnight leader Lucas Herbert, tees off at 15:30 BST on Saturday.

Darbon would not be drawn on whether DeChambeau had threatened on Friday night to pull out of the weekend.

"It's fair to say there was some emotion around that and we will keep some of the aspects of that discussion private," Darbon said.

He added: "There was some emotion but I empathise with that. Bryson has played a great round of golf, is in contention at a major championship, he wants to win the golf's original major.

"We were focused on the ruling and making a fair assessment."

While DeChambeau did not want to answer questions from reporters on Friday evening, he soon made his feelings clear about the ruling in his late-night social media posts.

"Obviously disappointed with the ruling. I don't agree with it, but it is what it is. This fires me up. Onto the weekend. Let's get it," he wrote on X shortly after midnight.

He also posted photos on Instagram which had been doctored to show him levitating above the Birkdale rough.

DeChambeau vociferously challenging the rules - rather than accepting them as golfing etiquette usually deems the norm - has led to support from his fans, as well as criticism from others.

Critics have pointed to Ireland's Shane Lowry accepting a two-stroke penalty at last year's Open as an example of how players should react.

The Irishman was adjudged to have caused his ball to move during a practice swing on the 12th hole at Royal Portrush, but did not dispute the penalty because he did not want to be labelled as "a cheat".

Three-time Open champion Nick Faldo accused DeChambeau of "losing the plot" at Birkdale and wanting to be "the centre of attention".

It is not the first time this week Faldo has taken aim at the American, having suggested DeChambeau had little chance of winning The Open because he had "zero clue of strategy".

"No player is bigger than the game. Jack [Nicklaus], Arnold [Palmer] have left the arena and golf has gone on. Tiger [Woods] has gone quiet, golf has gone on.

"Once you're done, golf goes on. If he disappeared tomorrow, we'll say that was tough but we will go on."

Darbon said he "did not know" whether DeChambeau's actions, and social media posts, constituted bringing the game into disrepute.

"I think it's an assumption to imply what Bryson is trying to communicate through his social media posts so it's not my place to comment on that," he added.