Brooks Koepka dominates Bryson De Chambeau, but feud remains unsettled

“Not going to lie—I just wanted to spank you.”

And that’s pretty much exactly what Brooks Koepka did in his Las Vegas match against big-hitting Bryson DeChambeau, beating him 4 and 3 at Wynn Las Vegas. The match, which was created to last 12 holes, but Koepka finished televised event with a conceded birdie on the ninth hole.

David Becker/Getty Images for The Match

The match was a one-sided affair throughout, but that didn’t stop Charles Barkley and Phil Mickelson from trash talking like it was the match of the century. At one point Mickelson advised Bryson to get his brain “in theta,” which is utter jargon, and something the rest of us simply call “focusing.”

David Becker/Getty Images

DeChambeau failed to make a birdie in the exhibition, while Koepka’s game was much stronger, making four birdies in the match play event.

The event was much hyped with the perception that Koepka, a four-time major winner, dislikes DeChambeau. In recent years, DeChambeau has reworked himself from an idiosyncratic golfer known best for his one-length clubs to the biggest hitter in the game, capable of smashing the ball incredible distances. Koepka’s laissez-faire attitude to the game—he said if he has his way he won’t return to golf till April—has elicited interesting reactions from golf fans.

Brooks Koepka WITB

Via SRIXON® and Cleveland Golf

Driver: Srixon ZX5 9.5°
3 wood: TaylorMade M2 Tour HL
3 iron: Nike Vapor Fly Pro
Irons: Srixon ZX7 Irons 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore Tour Rack 52° MID, 56° MID, 60° LOW
Putter:  Scotty Cameron Teryllium Tour Newport 2
Golf Ball: Srixon Z-STAR Prototype
Bag: Srixon Tour Staff Bag

The Feud

The event was called “The Match,” but in reality it should have been called “The Feud.” These two have had a longstanding dislike for one another, which began when Brooks gave some passive aggressive comments directed at Bryson’s slow play. Bryson followed it up by commenting not so kindly about Brooks’ photoshoot for the Sports Illustrated Body Image. The recriminations continued, with Brooks taking a photo of his four major trophies and saying he was “two short of a six pack,” a dig at Bryson’s comparative lack of major success. Then things got downright real when a leaked video of Brooks disparaging Bryson emerged online. Since then the two oversized golfers have gone back and forth, with Brooks stating online he would send a case of Michelob Ultra to anyone who was kicked out of a PGA Tour event for calling Bryson “Brooksie”. Bryson responded by getting the PGA Tour to kick out anyone who misnamed him. Bread was broken at the Ryder Cup when the two shared a hug, but beneath the surface the embers of their rivalry continued to sizzle.

The Outcome

DeChambeau is ranked 7th in the world, while Koepka, who had a year in which he struggled with injuries, is 16th.

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

DeChambeau attributes his rusty form to having been away from the game. He last teed it up at the Ryder Cup, in which he was one of the stars for a successful American effort at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

David Becker/Getty Images for The Match

“I haven’t played in two months,” DeChambeau said after the match was completed. “No excuses, though. I should have done better.”

The match is the latest in a series of televised events, which started with Tiger Woods facing Phil Mickelson at Shadow Creek, with Woods losing in a playoff.

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One thought on “Brooks Koepka dominates Bryson De Chambeau, but feud remains unsettled”

  1. How did DeChambeau expect to go into any match without touching his clubs? Stupid Excuse, period. He got his Ass kicked!