DUEL IN THE DUNES
Koepka and Dechambeau bring their simmering Sandwich as Brooks says Bryson is ‘fair game’ Feud to The Open at after breaking truce
BROOKS KOEPKA says Bryson Dechambeau is “fair game” after breaking their truce, as the two Americans brought their running feud across the Atlantic to The Open.
But Dechambeau insisted he is a “great person” and hinted that the bad blood between the pair was hitting his golf.
The bickering started back in January
2019, but Koepka said yesterday that Dechambeau went back on a deal later that year not to speak about each other in public.
“We had a conversation at Liberty and he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain and I didn’t like that, so I’ll take my shots,” said Koepka. “Now it’s fair game.”
Dechambeau relit the rivalry in January 2020 when he mocked Koepka posing nude in the ESPN Body Issue. “He can say whatever he wants,” said Dechambeau. “He said something back at Liberty National about not upholding something – I don’t know what he’s talking about in that regard.”
But as tension increased
over the summer – with Koepka offering free beer to fans ejected from a tournament for heckling – world No.6 Dechambeau has not finished in the top 25 in the first three Majors of the year.
“Everybody is human,” said last year’s US Open winner. “We all make mistakes and things happen. We have emotion.
“For me, I’m somebody that doesn’t necessarily like controversy. I guess that’s something that I don’t necessarily deal the best with sometimes.
“Does the criticism hurt? It makes it emotionally a little more difficult to, I would say, resolve that because in my heart of hearts I really think I’m a great person.”
Koepka has claimed the feud is “good for the game”, with the controversy appealing to a “younger
generation”. And he
would like to see the pair playing together in the final group on Sunday.
“I would enjoy it,” he said. “There would be a lot of people tuning in.”
But the world No.8 seems to like Royal St George’s about as much as he likes Dechambeau. “It’s not my
favourite of the rotation, put it that way,” said Koepka.
The exchange of barbs has become like a tennis match.
They both resemble Novak Djokovic, with four-time Major winner Koepka craving more respect and attention and mad scientist Dechambeau never far from controversy.
Or maybe it’s more like Meghan v Kate, with everyone choosing their side. But they will be on the same USA team at the Ryder Cup in September.
“It’s only a week,” said Koepka. “I can put it aside for business. I can deal with anybody in the world for a week. I’m pretty sure we’re not going to be paired together, put it that way.”
But Dechambeau is up for the pairing. “It would be kind of funny,” he said. “We’d do well. It would create an interesting vibe for the team, or the guys we’re playing against.”