The Open Championship in 2026 just crowned its Champion Golfer of the Year, a surprising underdog win from Ryan Fox. But two of the most prominent, successful, and accomplished golfers of the tournament keep grabbing headlines: Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
DeChambeau became the center of attention, and the story of the Open, before the event even started. After missing the cut at all three majors heading into Royal Birkdale, commentators Nick Faldo and Brandel Chamblee both went after him for either prioritizing YouTube golf over competition, or in Faldo’s case, an apparent lack of “strategy” in attacking links golf.
Sure enough, DeChambeau quickly put himself in contention, including what appeared to be a second-round 66 that moved him to seven under par and within one shot of the second round leader, Lucas Herbert at -8. But after the round had completed, rules officials took him back to the fifth hole after reviewing footage that they believed showed he incorrectly improved the area around his backswing. Despite a lengthy discussion and argument, DeChambeau was addressed a two-shot penalty. And reportedly considered sitting out the remainder of the tournament in protest.
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There have been passionate arguments on both sides over the legitimacy of the ruling. Many have said it was justified considering it appears on camera as though DeChambeau steps around the area carelessly, while several players, including Xander Schauffele, have come out in his favor.
Then there’s the other side of it, that DeChambeau might have held up the R&A’s announcement of tee times for round three while deciding whether to play. That certainly rubbed some players the wrong way, including McIlroy.
“I won’t pretend to be up here and defend Bryson,” he told reporters. “I’m not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it is performative. I think a lot of it’s for attention.
“To hold the tournament hostage like that and to have all of us — players, volunteers, everyone — waiting on him to depart, I didn’t feel like it was a great look,” McIlroy said.
“I think there’s no doubt that he improved the line of his backswing,” he added. “Again, it’s like, whether it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don’t think it matters. Hopefully, it was careless, but I think the two-shot penalty was justified, for sure.”
It’s rare to see a player speak out that, shall we say, aggressively, about another. But McIlroy has increasingly in recent years been more open with his thoughts to the media. Perhaps worn down by years of being one of the most visible and prominent personalities on the PGA Tour, his role in opposing the formation of LIV Golf, starting TGL, or even after winning The Masters, questions about his legacy or years of struggles in major championships. But whatever the cause, McIlroy’s answer about DeChambeau summarized who he’s become as a public figure.
And it was also a bit hypocritical.
For all his qualities, obviously one of the best golfers of the modern era, someone whose commitment to the PGA Tour helped keep it together as LIV grabbed star after star, and his competitiveness in big events, McIlroy has frequently also demonstrated petulance, immaturity, and in some cases, performative behavior. Which is why he, like DeChambeau, has become a polarizing figure in the golf world.
When he lost the 2024 U.S. Open, to Bryson, after a series of poor holes down the stretch at Pinehurst, McIlroy just…left. He didn’t speak to the media, he didn’t address fans, or handle the loss with grace and composure, he just…bailed. Then was defensive about it afterward. He didn’t speak to the media at all after his four rounds at the PGA Championship in 2025.
In one infamous incident, he grabbed a fan’s phone and walked away with it, before returning it later. At the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, it was widely reported that some unruly fans yelled unacceptable things towards him, but instead of handling , McIlroy snapped, screaming obscenities right back. At the 2023 Ryder Cup, he had to be restrained from going after Team USA caddies in the parking lot.
He smashed a tee marker at a US Open, and slammed his driver at the 2026 PGA Championship. He bragged after winning The Masters that he’s become almost an honorary member at Augusta National, flying privately up from his home in Florida to practice there each spring. While the PGA Tour looks for ways to increase the number of events featuring top players competing against each other, McIlroy has made no secret of his intention to play as few tournaments as possible because his focus is exclusively on winning majors.
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That’s the issue with calling out others for perceived personality flaws. He has many of his own. Which is not to say that he’s some malignant figure in the golf world, or even that he’s necessarily wrong about DeChambeau. But he’s had plenty of incidents that others would call performative, or breaching proper conduct, or losing decorum. That’s why McIlroy has become such a polarizing figure. He’s often willing to criticize others, even though his own career has featured plenty of emotional outbursts and controversial moments. That doesn’t necessarily mean he’s wrong about DeChambeau, but it does make his criticism easier to question.
Is DeChambeau performative at times? Sure; he’s made no bones about the fact that he views part of his role as being an entertainer. He is an entertainer, professional sports are an entertainment product. If fans didn’t find them entertaining, there’d be no one watching. Does that mean he cheated? No. Would McIlroy have been furious about receiving a penalty in that situation? Almost certainly.
There’s a reason for the phrase, those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Rory should remember it.
