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Bryson DeChambeau is at the center of claims that he was extorted for $2 million by a former coach following his victory at the 2024 US Open.
The allegations stem from a dispute between DeChambeau and Mike Schy, who worked with DeChambeau as one of his first instructors from his youth in California up until 2018.
Bryson DeChambeau (r.) and Mike Schy (l.) in 2016/ Getty Images
In 2023, Schy approached DeChambeau with a proposal to start a series of affordable junior golf tournaments, which they named the Jon DeChambeau Memorial Junior Tour after Bryson's late father. Schy ran some successful test events that year.
However, problems reportedly emerged when Schy asked DeChambeau for funding for the next season. Schy told Golfweek he needed $125,000 for two years, which DeChambeau agreed to provide as a "non-recourse loan."
DeChambeau's agent Brett Falkoff disputed this, saying Schy had not properly set up the necessary 501-C3 organization or provided a viable business plan.
“I know Bryson and I knew he didn’t really want to give the money,” Schy told Golfweek. “And I certainly knew he didn’t want to give it for a long period of time.”
According to Falkoff, Schy shut down the junior tour in June 2024 just before it was set to begin, and made a series of critical social media posts about DeChambeau.
In a strongly-worded statement to Golfweek, Bryson rejected Schy's account. Bryson said Schy did not properly establish the required legal structures or provide a viable business plan for the tour.
Most shocking of all, Bryson alleged that after his high-profile U.S. Open victory, Schy approached him demanding a $2 million payout. Bryson characterized this as an attempt at "extortion."
Schy did not dispute contacting Bryson after the win but denied the interaction constituted extortion, stating he felt justified in seeking compensation for his efforts.
Both parties have lawyered up as disagreements over funding commitments and operational oversight have escalated. Bryson maintained his priority was establishing "sustainable" support for junior golf through "proper" channels.
“It’s a disgruntled former employee, unfortunately, and it is what it is,” DeChambeau told Golfweek. “We’ve had numerous conversations and it hasn’t worked out from a business standpoint. “It’s quite disappointing how he’s turned this and spun this. It’s a non-recourse loan that was going out. I gave him my dad’s name, image and likeness for free on the assumption we’d have a good business plan and it just hasn’t worked out. I’m going to be doing a lot for my community, just in a different fashion with a proper business plan and done correctly.”
DeChambeau said it was all "a complete and utter lie" and characterized Schy as a "disgruntled former employee." However, Schy did not deny asking for a payout, saying he felt it was time to look out for himself.
The dispute is raising many questions about what went wrong in the former working relationship between DeChambeau and Schy. DeChambeau will likely face more queries about the situation at next week's Open Championship.
“I can give that money tomorrow. The point is I want to make it sustainable,” DeChambeau told Golfweek. “I don’t want to be divvying out money and giving it away fruitlessly. He said I hate non-profits, no, I said I hate the way they are usually run. That’s what I actually said. Everything I said is misconstrued and twisted in a way that is absolutely false.”
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It remains to be seen how this complex story will ultimately resolve, but one thing is clear - Bryson DeChambeau claims he was extorted after his memorable US Open win.
With Bryson now embroiled in legal battles on multiple fronts, this fresh dispute threatens to become a drawn-out saga. Golfaq.com will continue monitoring developments in the turbulent Bryson DeChambeau sphere.
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