Donald Trump question puts R&A chief on the spot after Bryson DeChambeau controversy

R&A chief executive Mark Darbon has defended the controversial two-shot penalty handed to Bryson DeChambeau at The Open, insisting officials made a "clear-cut" ruling under the Rules of Golf.

DeChambeau's hopes of winning his first Claret Jug suffered a major setback after he was penalised following his second round at Royal Birkdale on Friday.

The LIV Golf star had appeared to climb to 7-under par after a brilliant 66, leaving him just one shot off the lead. 

However, R&A officials soon deemed he had improved the conditions affecting his stroke after trampling long grass near his ball on the par-4 5th.

DeChambeau was carted back out to the deep rough down the right side of the 5th to discuss the incident further with R&A rules officials. 

After a lengthy and somewhat heated exchange (watch below), DeChambeau was driven back to the recorder's hut to talk some more. 

More than hour after he finished his round, a decision of two-shot penalty was reached and informed to the public. 

The resulting two-shot penalty changed his score to a 68, dropping the two-time U.S. Open champion back to 5-under par and three shots behind Australian leader Lucas Herbert heading into the weekend.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Darbon said the decision to dock DeChambeau two shots was straightforward despite the controversy it generated.

"It was an unfortunate decision but really clear-cut from a rules perspective," Darbon said.

Darbon was then asked, tongue firmly in cheek, whether he had received a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump, who is a keen golfer and close friend of DeChambeau.

Trump recently made headlines after publicly urging FIFA to review United States striker Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension during the Club World Cup (a decision that eventually got overturned), prompting Carter to ask whether the President had intervened over DeChambeau's penalty.

"No," Darbon replied with a smile. "I have not received a call from President Trump and we'll see what happens from here."

Watch Darbon's response in full here:

There was uncertainty on Friday evening over whether DeChambeau would continue in the championship after his long-time agent, Brett Falkoff, told reporters the American had yet to decide whether he would return for the third round.

DeChambeau later confirmed on social media that he would continue, saying the incident had only fuelled his motivation for the weekend. 

Through Falkoff, he also admitted he felt he had been "unfairly penalized" following the ruling on the par-4 5th.

Darbon declined to reveal details of the discussions that took place with DeChambeau and his team after the ruling, but acknowledged emotions were running high.

"It's fair to say there was some emotion around that and we'll keep some aspects of that discussion private," Darbon said.

"I empathise with that. Bryson has played a great round of golf, he's in contention at a major championship and he wants to win golf's original major.

"We were focused on the ruling and making a fair assessment."

Despite the setback, DeChambeau remains firmly in contention for a first Open and third career major title.