Koepka, Dechambeau, Spieth, Schauffele done

AUGUSTA, GA. » Golf’s hottest rivalry not so long ago has cooled off considerably. Missing cuts at the Masters will do that. Neither Bryson Dechambeau nor Brooks Koepka will stick around for the weekend at Augusta National after falling outside the cutline of 4-over 148 on Friday.

Koepka shot back-to-back 75s to finish at 6 over, while Dechambeau and his ailing left wrist posted a jarring 8-over 80 in the second round and his score ballooned to 12over 156 to send him home early for the first time in six appearances underneath the Georgia pines.

So much for basically ignoring the recommendation that he stay home this time around to allow his wrist some more rest. Dechambeau opted to play even with the wrist at what he said was 80%.

When the 28-year-old offered that observation in the run-up to the tournament, he didn’t imagine that number would match his score on Friday, his worst in any major in his career.

The problem wasn’t power. Dechambeau averaged 312.5 yards per drive, thirdbest in the field of 89.

It’s where those tee shots landed that was the issue.

He hit just 14 of 28 (50%) fairways and 17 of 36 (47%) greens. Solid but not spectacular putting wasn’t nearly enough to make up the difference.

Eighteen months ago, Dechambeau caused a stir when he said he considered Augusta National a par 67 because of his prodigious length and the reachable par 5s. He has hit that number just once in 10 chances since and didn’t come close in 2022.

After laboring through a 4 over on Thursday, things got no better overnight. His card on Friday included a double bogey at the par-4 10th that started with a tee shot that sailed into the trees down the left side of the fairway and left him shrieking “Oh no!”

The player who made a trip through Amen Corner while hitting tennis balls and throwing Frisbees with the comedy sports troupe “Dude Perfect” last month looked far more uncomfortable playing it with a golf club in his hands. He bogeyed both the 12th and 13th holes and added another double bogey at the par-4 17th when his approach sailed over the green and bounced off a mound and into trouble.

At least Dechambeau can blame a wrist that’s still iffy. Not so with Koepka.

Six months after easily beating Dechambeau in a made-for-tv event last fall in an attempt to monetize their contempt for each other, Koepke endured another swing in a widely uneven season that now includes a tie for third at the Phoenix Open, a tie for fifth at the Match Play and six missed cuts.