Can PGA rivals Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau put aside their differences as teammates at next month’s Ryder Cup? They’re going to try. Whether manufactured or not, Koepka and DeChambeau’s shared beef has been one of the most compelling storylines in golf this year, escalating with each subsequent jab on social media. The feud has taken on a life of its own, though Brooks and Bryson have agreed to put their swords away, at least for the week they're in Wisconsin together.
"They said it's not going to be an issue and I believe them,” United States captain Steve Stricker told John Hawkins of Sports Illustrated. “As far as I'm concerned, it's been put to bed." DeChambeau and Koepka, ranked sixth and eighth in the world respectively, were also teammates the last time the Ryder Cup was held in 2018. They didn’t play together that tournament—DeChambeau partnered up with Phil Mickelson while Koepka was paired with Tony Finau—and Stricker imagines that will be the case again at Whistling Straits.
“I don't see it happening, no. I don't think they want to play together."
Stricker said he’s spoken with both players separately as well as Paul Azinger, who was captain of the US squad when they defeated Europe in 2008. “I talked to Strick for about 25 minutes last week, and we spent about half that time discussing Brooks and Bryson,” said Azinger. “He knows the risk is the same as the one Hal [Sutton] took with Tiger and Phil, but something like that can work either way. There’s a chance those two guys could create the greatest rallying cry ever—or the whole thing could become a total pain in the ass.”
Koepka and DeChambeau are both competing at this week’s BMW Championship, the second leg of this year's FedEx Cup playoffs. Defending champ and current World No. 1 Jon Rahm is tied with two others (Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns) atop the leaderboard at -8 with DeChambeau four shots back at -4 through 18 at Baltimore’s Cave Valley Golf Club.
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