SAN DIEGO, CA — Bryson DeChambeau made a concerted attempt on Tuesday to put a light-hearted spin on his public feud with Brooks Koepka, describing it as “great banter” and welcoming a potential on-course showdown between the pair at this week’s US Open.
Defending champion DeChambeau and 2017 and 2018 winner Koepka between them have won three of the past four US Opens, and their recent feud could hardly have come at a better time for anyone looking for a bit of acrimony in a sport with a staid public image.
Further down the track, DeChambeau and Koepka face the intriguing prospect of being American Ryder Cup team mates in September.
Their feud stems from a leaked interview Koepka recorded with Golf Channel after the PGA Championship last month. As DeChambeau walked behind the camera, Koepka rolled his eyes and made obvious his distaste for the player.
Though the video did not air on the Golf Channel, it soon popped up on social media.
DeChambeau was heckled at the Memorial tournament in Ohio two weeks ago by some rowdy spectators who yelled out Koepka’s name, and could face the prospect of similar treatment at Torrey Pines.
Koepka kept the feud alive by subsequently posting a video on social media thanking the fans who had yelled his name in Ohio, and promising free beer for their support. — Reuters