Bryson DeChambeau reportedly threatened to contact United States President Donald Trump during a heated dispute with officials after receiving a two-shot penalty at the Open Championship.
The American golfer was penalised during Friday's second round after tournament officials ruled that he had improved the area of his intended backswing by flattening long grass on the fifth hole at Royal Birkdale.
The decision proved costly, dropping DeChambeau from second place and leaving him further adrift of the leaders heading into the weekend.
Red Harrington@RedHarrington44According to reports, the two-time major champion suggested he would call Trump while discussing the ruling with officials in an attempt to overturn the penalty.
R&A says rules decision was straightforward
DeChambeau has a well-documented relationship with Trump, having played golf with the US president, served on his Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, and attended an event at the White House earlier this year.
The incident has drawn comparisons with the recent FIFA World Cup controversy, where Trump successfully urged football's governing body to review the red card shown to United States forward Folarin Balogun, resulting in the striker's one-match suspension being lifted.
However, there was no such intervention in golf.
When asked whether Trump had contacted tournament organisers, R&A chief executive Mark Darbon dismissed the suggestion.
"No, I have not received a call from President Trump," Darbon told BBC Sport.
"Irrespective of which player this affected, it is the same decision. From a rules perspective it was clear cut."
It is also understood DeChambeau later asked tournament officials for possession of his previous day's scorecard, but that request was rejected.
The 32-year-old eventually finished tied for 14th, six shots behind champion Ryan Fox, and declined to speak to the media after his final round.
Instead, he reflected on the tournament in a social media post.
