Scottie Scheffler comments on Bryson DeChambeau's two-shot Open Championship penalty: 'not a cheater'

World number one Scottie Scheffler shared his perspective on the recent two-shot penalty assessed to Bryson DeChambeau at The Open Championship. After playing alongside DeChambeau during the second round, Scheffler spoke to the media about the incident and the broader topic of rules enforcement in professional golf.

Scheffler was clear in his defense of his peer. He stated that he has known DeChambeau for a long time and considers him to be a person of integrity. During their time competing together in both amateur and professional golf, Scheffler noted he never observed any behavior that suggested cheating. He emphasized that the situation was likely a case of carelessness rather than an intentional violation of the rules.

Despite this defense of character, Scheffler acknowledged the difficulty of policing the game when every move is under the scrutiny of television cameras. He pointed out that players in high-profile pairings are subject to a level of surveillance that others avoid, which can make certain actions appear more suspicious than they might be in person. This disparity creates a challenge for officials tasked with maintaining the traditions of the sport.

Ultimately, Scheffler suggested that professional golf needs to implement stricter enforcement of its rules. He expressed a desire to return to the traditional standards of the game, where the line between acceptable play and rule infractions is clearly defined and consistently policed. His comments capture the tension many players feel between defending their peers and upholding the formal requirements of the game.