Bryson DeChambeau reprises role as pantomime villain in The Open soap opera

Bryson DeChambeau was eviscerated by Rory McIlroy, roared around Royal Birkdale by supporters, heckled by the odd fan, battled to stay in contention for The Open and then stormed into the R&A’s offices after his round demanding his scorecard from Friday.

Another day of drama around the American as his challenge for the Claret Jug at Royal Birkdale turned into a soap opera on Saturday evening.

Who knows what Sunday will bring but, while his compatriot Sam Burns leads the tournament by two shots from Ryan Fox – who shot a joint-majors low round of 62, the third of the week – and Si Woo Kim, all eyes may be further down the scoreboard once the action returns on the famous links.

This is pure theatre with DeChambeau playing the pantomime villain. For those that love their sport with a dose of drama then they will be immersed in this.

McIlroy decided to make his feelings clear on DeChambeau on Saturday afternoon and one of his jibes pointed to the “performative” nature of his rival’s behaviour late on Friday evening as he argued about a two-shot penalty and delayed leaving the course by pounding balls on the range in the dark.

While the brash American may argue against most of what the Northern Irishman said in his interview, he cannot dismiss the accusation of being performative especially after what unfolded here.

This was a brilliant display playing to the crowd and the wider golf audience in the third round of The Open after the drama of the night before.

The best example came on the ninth tee, looking out at the driveable green on the par four. Some of the crowd gathered had picked the spot and some had come from the swarm following DeChambeau around Royal Birkdale’s famous links course.

They knew this was a moment where the big-hitter would really let rip with the driver. Playing partner Burns would be conservative with an iron.

The tension built as a slight concern grew among the punters DeChambeau would take the same option. He could feel it, then the shouts came of “get the driver out”.

DeChambeau glared at one fan for what felt like an age. Burns left the tee, DeChambeau went towards his bag and he pulled out the driver in an over-elaborate manner.

The roar will have been heard around the course as if it was a putt dropping for eagle. DeChambeau then fired a drive away to just short of the green but a birdie putt from just under six foot didn’t drop.

This sporting theatre performance began for the 32-year-old LIV Golf star just before 3pm as he returned the driving range he had frequented until beyond 10.30pm the night before.

A few eager and young autograph hunters were on his route to the practice area and, after their flags remained unsigned, one offered up the advice of “keep your feet off the long grass”.

DeChambeau’s row with the R&A had come from him inadvertently trampling on the grass behind his ball on the fifth hole earlier in his second round which rules officials felt improved his swing path out of the rough and resulted in a two-shot penalty despite his protestations which he took back out to the hole.

“I’m not particularly fond of him,” McIlroy said after his own round of one-under left him pretty much out of contention on two-under for the tournament. “I think a lot of it’s 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.”

McIlory’s words may change the mood slightly towards DeChambeau on Sunday given his status in the game but because they came as the American was plotting his way around the course and fans were too busy lapping up the sunshine to hear what the Northern Irishman said, it was a mostly positive backing for the supposed villain. At times it bordered on overly supportive.

DeChambeau high-fived children, posed for pictures with them and even beckoned away security who tried to remove one young fan from his vicinity as he power walked towards the first tee just before 3.30pm.

He was cheered when announced but there was one solitary shout of “cheater” as he headed for the fairway after seeing his tee shot go left into the rough.

The first humorous moment of the round came when he got to his ball and brushed away some pine cones and said “loose impediments” to assure those looking on.

There was a cry of “careful Bryson”, too. The second saw him in the rough again, this time after a wayward second shot and the shout of “watch your feet lad” came from someone with a Scouse twang and brought chuckles from those around him.

DeChambeau played a brilliant shot from the left of the green but he missed the par putt to drop back to four-under.

As he continued to par holes, the odd shout of “cheat” came from the crowd. DeChambeau didn’t react and gave no indication if he could hear the calls. He did not return to the crime scene on the fifth, but missed a birdie putt.

As he walked down the sixth, a shout of “stay out of the long stuff” came. This time a birdie followed with a big fist pump to the gallery.

As he made his way towards the seventh, a fan dressed in a suit of the American flag colours got his attention and he went over to high five the supporter before a few more had their palms stung by the energised DeChambeau.

The ninth brought a cry of “F*** the R&A” from the crowd as the supporters continued to follow DeChambeau around the course.

All the while Burns was moving himself towards the top of the leaderboard. Fans continued to swill pints, the odd jibes were still thrown at DeChambeau, but the golf continued uninterrupted.

DeChambeau was steady if not spectacular but a superb tee shot on the 241-yard par-three 15th gave him a glorious birdie chance which he took to move to six-under.

It was followed by another on 17 and the cheer was almost as if he was a hometown favourite. Yet a wayward tee shot on 18 meant it would not be a straightforward finish. There was a drama as his ball moved in the rough but it was not anything of his own doing and the rules official instructed him to play the ball as it lied.

The grandstand on the final green had a few final heckles. One was “Up the R&A”, another of “Bryson, you cheat” brought some boos while the “got a strimmer here if you need it” was a met with a bit more of a jovial response from the crowd.

It should be noted that there has been no accusation from the officials that he cheated. It was classed as inadvertently improving his lie on Friday.

There is no doubt that the crowd around Royal Birkdale seemed to be loving him for the most part as DeChambeau embraced the support and shot a 69, which was impressive given the pressure he was under, to finish four off the lead and his playing partner Burns.

But he looked angry as he left the scoring hut, skipped media duties and went straight to the Championship Office for a meeting with R&A chief executive Mark Darbon which was not in the diary.

The discussion appeared animated and it is understood he wanted his scorecard from Friday. The R&A declined to comment and it is not known why he made such a request, which was denied, before he headed back to the scorers’ hut.

He finished the day back at the range before leaving the course. Tune in on Sunday afternoon for the next episode of the DeChambeau show.