Piers Morgan and Skip Bayless called out by golf fans for "wrong" take on Rory-Bryson Open feud
June 4, 2026, London, United Kingdom: Piers Morgan seen in conversation on stage at SXSW London. South by Southwest SXSW London brought together leaders from media, music and technology across Shoreditch on Thursday, with featured sessions at Shoreditch Town Hall including The Next Frontier: Audience Building in the Platform Era with television presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. The programme also included an EarthPercent presentation featuring musician and environmental advocate Brian Eno alongside Jacob Collier, while the Headlines and Harmonies discussion brought together singer Katherine Jenkins and broadcaster Piers Morgan as part of the festivals opening-week programme. London United Kingdom - ZUMAs197 20260604_aaa_s197_381 Copyright: xBonniexBritainx
June 4, 2026, London, United Kingdom: Piers Morgan seen in conversation on stage at SXSW London. South by Southwest SXSW London brought together leaders from media, music and technology across Shoreditch on Thursday, with featured sessions at Shoreditch Town Hall including The Next Frontier: Audience Building in the Platform Era with television presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. The programme also included an EarthPercent presentation featuring musician and environmental advocate Brian Eno alongside Jacob Collier, while the Headlines and Harmonies discussion brought together singer Katherine Jenkins and broadcaster Piers Morgan as part of the festivals opening-week programme. London United Kingdom - ZUMAs197 20260604_aaa_s197_381 Copyright: xBonniexBritainx
Rory McIlroy went after Bryson DeChambeau at The Open. Piers Morgan and Skip Bayless both cheered him on. That turned out to be the wrong room to walk into.
McIlroy commented on DeChambeau's two-shot penalty from Friday's second round at Royal Birkdale in an interview with Golf Digest on Sunday, July 19.
"Well said, @McIlroyRory."
This response on X came as McIlroy made a statement about Bryson.
"I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson," McIlroy said. "I'm not particularly fond of him. 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 have all of us, volunteers, players, everyone waiting on him to depart, I didn't feel like it was a great look."
September 28, 2025, Farmingdale, Ny, United States: FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 28: Bryson DeChambeau of Team USA tees off on hole 1 during the Ryder Cup - Singles Matches at Bethpage Black Golf Course on September 28, 2025 in Farmingdale, NY. Farmingdale United States - ZUMAt139 20250928_aaa_t139_159 Copyright: xAlxChang/IsixPhotosx
September 28, 2025, Farmingdale, Ny, United States: FARMINGDALE, NY - SEPTEMBER 28: Bryson DeChambeau of Team USA tees off on hole 1 during the Ryder Cup - Singles Matches at Bethpage Black Golf Course on September 28, 2025 in Farmingdale, NY. Farmingdale United States - ZUMAt139 20250928_aaa_t139_159 Copyright: xAlxChang/IsixPhotosx
Hours earlier, Skip Bayless had posted his own take
"I love the way Rory blasted Bryson. Rory spoke as golf's most respected and outspoken voice and said what so many other players were thinking."
The incident happened during Friday's second round. DeChambeau received a two-shot penalty after R&A officials ruled that he accidentally improved the area for his backswing on the par-4 fifth hole. His score on the hole changed from a bogey to a triple bogey. As a result, his round changed from 4-under 66 to 2-under 68, and his total score dropped from 7-under to 5-under.
The process took over 70 minutes to resolve. DeChambeau declined to speak to the media afterward.
Morgan and Bayless both endorsed McIlroy's comments publicly. The fan reaction on social media addressed both of them directly.
Golf fans pushed back hard on Piers Morgan's post on social media
Morgan's post drew an immediate response from golf fans.
One fan replied directly: 'You cannot be more wrong. Do you take the wrong side just for attention?"
Another fan went further, admonishing Morgan for inciting a fued.
"Shut up Piers. This is opening up a continuous feud. How foolish can you be? I've been a fan of Rory since he came on tour but this was a mistake!"
A third, @jonathon_grant, offered a more measured take, saying,
"Piers, I like a lot of your takes, but just like Rory, you would've been better off staying out of this one"
Another fan admonished Morgan for getting into sports news, saying:
"Obviously, you weren't a proper sportsman @piersmorgan . Why would you want to get in talk and politics in golf."
Another fan questioned his alleged loyalty to Bryson.
"Are you changing your mind about Bryson @piersmorgan - I thought you were a big fan of his?"
The different reactions show the mixed opinions about DeChambeau in golf. McIlroy said his comments were about the delay caused to other players and volunteers. But many fans felt he was too harsh, especially after R&A referee Grant Moir said the improvement was accidental and not done on purpose.
Do you think Rory McIlroy was right to criticize Bryson DeChambeau in public at The Open? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Written by
Sneha Abraham
Edited by
Zaid Quraishi