Bryson DeChambeau, at the center of the golf world because of his white-hot rivalry with Brooks Koepka, didn’t want to spend too much time discussing that rivalry Monday when he returned to speak about defending his title at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, July 1-4, at Detroit Golf Club.
DeChambeau, who will defend his U.S. Open title next week at Torrey Pines in San Diego, said the feud is good for the sport.
“I think a good jesting rivalry is good for the game of golf, nothing too extreme,” he told reporters on media day at Detroit Golf Club. “But at the same point and time that’s all outside of the spectrum of what we’re here for today, and I think the most important thing is to be talking about what Rocket Mortgage is doing for the 313 area and I think the change the course initiative is something that’s bigger than the game of golf, compared to a rivalry.”
DeChambeau and Koepka have been taking shots at each other for a while. But their rivalry reached a new height in May when an unaired interview at the PGA Championship was leaked and showed Koepka mumbling obscenities after DeChambeau walked behind him.
It took yet another turn last week at the Memorial tournament in Ohio, when about 10 spectators were ejected Friday after they taunted DeChambeau by saying “Brooksie,” sometimes during his backswing.
Koepka, who wasn’t in the tournament, offered to buy beer for the ejected fans. Afterward, DeChambeau said he spoke with Tour officials about stemming future poor behavior by fans.
DeChambeau declined to comment further on the incident Monday, but said he has no problem with Koepka.
“I’ve personally got no issue,” he said. “It’s something that he’s up for discussion if you want to talk to him about that you can, but I’ve got no issue.”
Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on Twitter @cmonarrez.