US Open champion and LIV Golf player Bryson DeChambeau disclosed that his longtime coach, Mike Schy, attempted to extort $2 million from him following his victory at Pinehurst last month.
The fan-favorite golfer and two-time major winner shared with Golfweek in an interview recently that Schy approached him after his U.S. Open win and demanded that DeChambeau pay up. DeChambeau described Schy as a “disgruntled employee.”
Schy has been coaching DeChambeau since he was just 11 years old.
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HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC – Bryson DeChambeau (right) talks with his coach Mike Schy on the practice green prior to the third round of the 2016 RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 16, 2016. (Photo by Tyler Lecka/Getty Images)
DeChambeau’s account of the dispute states that Schy was upset about the lack of funding provided by the golfer to keep the Central Valley Jon DeChambeau Memorial Junior Tour open. Schy also demanded that DeChambeau restore a $60,000 annual salary for him.
“Bryson has decided this was not a priority to him, offering only to loan money to his father’s namesake,” Schy said, relayed by Golfweek.
“I had to post that. I’m a little pissed. I’m a little salty for a number of reasons, one of which is he made me look bad again,” Schy noted.
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DeChambeau strongly denied Schy’s claims of letting his father’s non-profit tourney fail. Bryson added that he offered the coach $300,000 for his qualms but that Schy declined.
PINEHURST, NC – Bryson DeChambeau holds the U.S. Open trophy wearing his golf winners medal after his win in the final round of the 2024 U.S. Open Championship on the No.2 Course at The Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
“It’s quite disappointing how he’s turned this and spun this,” DeChambeau said. “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.”
“He was using his placement in regards to my dad’s name to leverage a junior tour to be created so he could bring more kids out to his place, which I don’t care about,” DeChambeau added. “All I care about is doing the right thing for the Central Valley, which is what I want to do and I will continue to do in numerous facets.”
Dechambeau’s agent, Brett Falkoff, also spoke with Golfweek, backing up the golfer’s claims that the coach is attempting to extort him after his U.S. Open win and that Schy harbored ill feelings when DeChambeau failed to mention the coach after his win.
“I always tell Bryson don’t single out anyone individually, always mention the team,” Falkoff shared. “Then you don’t have to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings; Mike’s feelings got hurt, that’s ultimately what led to all of this.”
Falkoff revealed DeChambeau’s response when Schy made a hefty payment request after approaching the golfer.
“Mike says, ‘It’s time that Bryson opens up his checkbook and I get paid. I want $2 million. I took that back to Bryson. He said, ‘I’m not paying him almost 50 percent of my U.S. Open winnings, that’s not going to happen. I’m willing to compensate him for help with [golf club manufacturers] Krank and Avoda but he’s not going to extort me for $2 million.’”
PINEHURST, NC – Bryson DeChambeau celebrates making a par on the 18th green to win during the final round of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort on June 16, 2024. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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