Steve Stricker insists the feud between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka is over
Many may not believe it, but Steve Stricker is insistent.
The feud between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka is over.
At least, it is until the Ryder Cup is over.
Stricker, the United States team captain, told Sports Illustrated that he’s spoken with both Koepka and DeChambeau personally and that both agreed to put their issues aside at least through Whistling Straits.
“They assured me that the team and the country and everything else that goes into this is their [top priority],” Stricker said, via Sports Illustrated. “They said it’s not going to be an issue, and I believe them. I trust them. As far as I’m concerned, it’s been put to bed.”
Stricker: ‘They both understand’
The feud apparently dates back to The Northern Trust last season, when the two initially put beef to bed in the locker room. Yet that didn’t last, as the two started talking about it publicly again — which has led to constant chirping between the two over the summer.
Though it’s certainly weird for the PGA Tour, where players don’t often publicly butt heads with each other, it was certainly entertaining. The timing was also extremely coincidental, as the Tour announced a new $40 million prize for the players who can best “positively move the needle” this season.
Think about the rift however you want to, but Stricker does have one point to back up his claim that it’s been put to rest. Both Koepka and DeChambeau have been rather quiet about it in recent weeks.
The last bit of chirping came in a subtle tweet Koepka sent in mid-July, when he made fun of DeChambeau’s harsh driver comments.
DeChambeau hasn’t spoken to reporters at tournaments recently, either, after he was slammed for comments he made about the COVID-19 vaccine. DeChambeau tested positive for the coronavirus just before the Tokyo Olympics and had to miss the event, and then later said he wasn’t going to get vaccinated because he was healthy and didn't want to take the vaccine away from anyone else who needed it more — something that just isn’t an issue in the United States at all anymore.
“We haven’t heard Brooks say anything about Bryson lately,” Stricker said, via Sports Illustrated. “This Ryder Cup means a lot to these guys. Neither one wants to be the root of a problem. They both understand.”
So while the two will be cordial at Whistling Straits next month, Stricker doesn’t think he’ll pair the two together.
“I’m not going to tell you there’s no chance, but I don’t see it happening, no,” Stricker said, via Sports Illustrated. “I don’t think they want to play together.”
