DUBLIN, Ohio – A day after being heckled by fans at the Memorial Tournament, his ears peppered by spectators calling him “Brooksie” and leading a handful of the jeerers to be ejected from the premises, Bryson DeChambeau — who shot a 73 on Saturday and stands even after three rounds — said he had an awesome day.
And he wasn’t bothered by the video posted by Brooks Koepka on Friday evening, in which the four-time major winner threw shade on his rival and thanked his supporters for showing their support for him at the Memorial — even though he isn’t playing this week.
The back and forth between the two has earned headlines the past 10 days. When asked if he thought Koepka’s video escalated the dispute, with some people calling it bullying and others thinking Koepka was inciting continued taunting, DeChambeau, who hasn’t seen the video but was told about it by his agent, said it wasn’t his issue to handle.
“I think that’s something that the (PGA) Tour needs to handle, it’s something I can’t control,” said DeChambeau, who said being called Brooksie was flattering. “I tried to take the high road numerous times and I think that, from my perspective, I’ll continue to keep doing so and people are going to do what they want to do. So it is what it is.
“Obviously, you’re going to have people saying things, but again, like I said yesterday, it doesn’t rile me up, it doesn’t affect me or anything like that.”
Koepka told Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch that he would never condone “anyone being a distraction during someone’s swing or when they are about to hit.”
“As professionals, we do enjoy fans getting engaged at the appropriate times,” Koepka said. “It’s part of sport and competition. Hecklers are always going to be a part of any live performance. We all know that out there. We all get called different names. I’ve been called DJ many times, even when I was slipping at Bethpage (on the back nine before holding Dustin Johnson off to win the PGA Championship in 2019). It’s part of it. He even said he considers it flattering.”
As for encouraging more heckling by offering beer, Koepka said he wasn’t condoning disrespectful or inappropriate behavior.
“I’m engaging in helping grow the game of golf and growing the Tour,” he said. “I’m here for people being engaged and excited about golf, as long as it doesn’t cross the line.”
DeChambeau said his agent has had conversations with the PGA Tour concerning this matter.
“I think it’s something along the lines of how the Tour wants players to act,” he said. “That’s about it. But from my perspective, I mean, if (Koepka) keeps talking about me, that’s great for the PIP Fund.”
Ah, yes, the PIP – Player Impact Program – which will award 10 players slices of a $40 million pie based on who moves the needle in a positive way the most.
“From an integrity standpoint and an honor of the game standpoint, you know, the game has always been played in a certain way. I think golf is changing, it’s evolving, so there’s going to come a time where it is going to be like this and if I’m the person to take the brunt of it and whatever, you know, great,” DeChambeau said. “I’m happy that there’s more conversations about me because of the PIP Fund. I love what’s been going on. I’ve had no issue with it whatsoever. I think that when it gets to a point where they’re affecting like your swing, like they’re saying in your swing, that’s a little over the line, but everything else, I don’t care.”