Open fans provide valuable lesson with Bryson DeChambeau treatment

During the 154th British Open at the legendary Royal Birkdale, a story unfolded that made many reflect on fan behavior and its impact on players. The question hanging in the air was: would Bryson DeChambeau become the target of the same negativity from the crowd as Wyndham Clark at the recent U.S. Open? The answer, as it turned out, was a resounding no, not even close.

Comparing the "original sins" of both players, one can find similarities. Wyndham Clark last year at Oakmont Country Club, the site of the U.S. Open, allowed himself to smash a locker in the locker room. Bryson DeChambeau at this British Open found himself in the spotlight due to his decision to walk through the deep fescue rough, right behind his ball, on the fifth hole at Royal Birkdale, which led to a two-stroke penalty from the tournament organizers, the R&A. Both actions clearly deviated from the traditional norms of behavior for "elite golfers" according to legends like Bobby Jones or Jack Nicklaus.

We all remember how, in the final round of this year's U.S. Open, playing in the same final twosome as Scottie Scheffler, Clark was subjected to humiliating taunts from spectators. In the history of the British Open, there has been no moment comparable in its level of negativity, not even close.

Spectators at the British Open are traditionally considered among the most knowledgeable in the world, surpassing even the crowd at the Masters, which seems more focused on the atmosphere and drinks at Amen Corner. Nevertheless, the R&A leadership this year felt compelled to issue an unprecedented pre-tournament appeal to fans, urging them to show respect. The press release highlighted key points:

• Respect the players;
• Respect the links;
• Respect each other;
• Be aware;
• Enjoy responsibly.

These points were formulated perfectly and timely, especially considering that on Friday evening, DeChambeau announced his potential withdrawal from the tournament due to the penalty assessed to him. Rory McIlroy, embodying the current golf establishment, accused DeChambeau of "looking for attention" and called his actions "performative," stating that he was "holding the tournament hostage" with his indecision about playing over the weekend.

In the end, of course, DeChambeau decided to tee it up on Saturday and Sunday. He received the opportunity to play one of the world's best courses under favorable weather conditions, free of charge. Moreover, he stood to earn a significant sum of money, despite criticism directed at the non-profit organization R&A, which was supposed to pay him.

All of this led to contemplation: could the fans at the British Open treat Bryson DeChambeau the same way they treated Wyndham Clark? The answer turned out to be negative. The crowd at Royal Birkdale showed respect, at the very least, polite respect. This is confirmed by the opinions of two typical fans, friends who have been watching golf for 50 years: Nigel Chambers from England and John Rowles from Wales.

"What they did at the U.S. Open with Clark, it was disgusting," said Nigel. "Okay, he smashed up a locker that was 200 years old or something. But he has apologized. As for the Ryder Cup, I can't even watch it anymore."

"So, yes, now the R&A have issued this Code of Conduct. You wouldn't even think it is necessary, but maybe it is," he added.

"The people who need a Code of Conduct won't read it," John countered. "What they should do is have yellow-card and red-card warnings for the fans: yellow for a first warning, red means you're out. Give them to all the marshals to distribute."

"As for DeChambeau, say what you will about him, nobody has questioned his integrity as a golfer, as far as I know," Nigel continued. "That would be the main reason why you would never hear any of that nonsense with Clark aimed at Bryson. I think he could have handled the whole matter with better grace, but it won't affect how he is treated here. I think he is more popular with the fans than with some of his fellow pros."

Nigel agreed, and they recalled Seve Ballesteros, the beloved Spanish golfer who often argued with golf officials, "arguing that his ball was on a rabbit scrape or some such and that he deserved a drop." Sometimes he got them, sometimes he didn't. But he remained beloved by the public.

Returning to the subject of Bryson DeChambeau, Nigel noted: "We do, we do tend to respect authority figures in this country. What DeChambeau did was inappropriate. But he's not going to get vilified for it."

And indeed, he was not vilified. The behavior of the fans at Royal Birkdale became a vivid example of how a deep understanding of the game and respect for the player's character can outweigh mistakes. This is a lesson for everyone who follows golf, and perhaps for the players themselves, that integrity and reputation matter more than momentary transgressions, especially in such a noble sport as golf.