The troll is strong in Brooks Koepka, who apparently is rewarding fans for taunting his rival Bryson DeChambeau. A number of audience members were ejected for antagonizing DeChambeau, trying to distract him by shouting “Brooksy” and “Brooks Koepka” Friday at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio. In response, Koepka, who is not taking part in any PGA events this week, told fans to get in touch with Michelob Ultra on Twitter, offering free cases of beer to spectators who may have had their afternoon in Dublin “cut short.”
There’s a certain irony to Koepka seemingly encouraging crowd misbehavior (as long as it’s aimed at his archenemy) two weeks after complaining of unruly patrons at the PGA Championship in South Carolina, where he finished second to fan favorite Phil Mickelson. Clearly displeased by the level of security on the 18th hole, Koepka accused one fan of bumping into the same knee he had surgery on two months earlier.
Unlike the largely invented Phil/Tiger rivalry, Koepka and DeChambeau’s shared animosity for each other appears to be genuine. Koepka has long complained of DeChambeau’s glacial pace on the course, taking forever between shots, and seemed legitimately angry at the PGA Championship when DeChambeau interrupted him during a post-round interview. When it was announced DeChambeau would be competing with Aaron Rodgers in a made-for-television event next month (the two will be opposed by Mickelson and reigning Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady), Koepka tweeted “Sorry, bro” at the Packers quarterback, to which Bryson responded that he was living “rent free” in Koepka’s head.
DeChambeau, for his part, denies he was responsible for any of the ejections that took place Friday, insisting that he found the mockery from fans “flattering.” The World No. 4 will begin Saturday’s third round nine shots off the lead currently held by defending champion Jon Rahm. DeChambeau has won at The Memorial before, defeating Kyle Stanley and An Byeong-hun in a playoff there for his second tour victory in 2018.
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