The way Brooks Koepka sees it, taking shots at Bryson DeChambeau is “fair game.”
Koepka, speaking at Royal St George’s ahead of this week’s British Open, elaborated again on the feud between the two that has dominated the golf world in recent months.
The whole thing started back at Liberty National for The Northern Trust, when the two apparently had a conversation in the locker room and put things to bed after Koepka had made a comment about DeChambeau’s slow play.
That, though, didn’t last.
After more comments made both in news conferences and on Twitch, Koepka said any agreement they made is over — which has led to seemingly constant chirping in recent months.
“We had a conversation at Liberty [National], and he didn't hold up his end of the bargain and I didn't like that,” Koepka said Tuesday. “So I'll take my shots.”
Koepka will kick off his opening round at the British Open alongside Jason Kokrak and Garrick Higgo on Thursday morning, where he’ll attempt to add another major championship to his belt. He finished in a tie for fourth in 2019, his best performance in the tournament, and is listed at +1400 to win on BetMGM. Only Jon Rahm has better odds.
DeChambeau — who will tee off about an hour after Koepka with Jordan Spieth and Branden Grace, and was listed at +3000 to win on BetMGM — was also asked about Koepka’s latest comments.
While he said he isn’t sure what agreement Koepka is talking about, the eight-time Tour winner played it off like he’s just focused on his game this week.
“He can say whatever he wants,” DeChambeau said. “I think he said something back at Liberty National not upholding something. I don't know what he's talking about in that regard. Maybe that's on me. Maybe I didn't. I really don't remember anything about that. We just had a conversation that I really don't know what happened, because we haven't really bantered back and forth until now, so it's like why is that happening now?
“Besides that, I'm just here to play golf and focus on that. If we want to keep bantering back and forth, obviously being respectful and keeping lines where they aren't getting crossed, yeah, I think it's fun and a good environment for people in golf.”
Can DeChambeau and Koepka get along at the Ryder Cup?
Both DeChambeau and Koepka are both currently in a position to earn an automatic spot on the Ryder Cup team this fall.
Though that’s still several months out — the biennial event between the United States and Europe will take place at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in September — throwing the two on a team together amid this controversy could make things a bit awkward, to say the least.
Koepka, however, insists he isn’t worried about it. He doesn’t expect to get paired up with DeChambeau, so there isn’t much to stress about, he said.
“It's only a week. I mean look, I can put it aside for business,” he said. “If we're going to be on the same team, I can deal with anybody in the world for a week. I'm not playing with him. I'm pretty sure we're not going to be paired together, put it that way. I think it's kind of obvious.”
DeChambeau said he felt the same way — other than the fact that he’s interested in being paired up with Koepka.
“I think it would be kind of funny actually,” DeChambeau said. “I think we'd do well, to be honest. It would create a little interesting vibe for the team or for the guys we're playing against.”
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