A longstanding golf feud will be in the spotlight on Friday when Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka battle it out in The Match.
The fifth edition of the match-play golf event (4 p.m. ET) will be a 12-hole contest at the Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas.
The two American golfers have been trading barbs for years, though there seemed to be a slight truce when they hugged it out as teammates at this year's Ryder Cup.
"Before we go, let's see Brooks and Bryson hug in the middle of the room," says Justin Thomas as the players get set to leave the stage.
Koepka and DeChambeau oblige. JT sings "Why can't we friends" in the background.#RyderCup pic.twitter.com/wLpNYgdq12
— Jonathan Jurejko (@J_Jurejko) September 26, 2021
The two first played together in the final round of the 2016 Masters, with Koepka saying he was not a fan of DeChambeau from the start.
“I never really liked him,” Koepka said.
But the feud didn't make headlines until 2019.
Kopeka had been vocal about slow playing being a major issue on the PGA Tour, with most feeling DeChambeau was one of his prime targets. On the practice green at Liberty National at the start of the 2019 post-season, DeChambeau approached Koepka's caddie and gave him a message, USA Today's Eamon Lynch reported.
Was standing on the putting green with Koepka's caddie earlier when an irritated Bryson DeChambeau walked up & told him to tell his boss to make any comment about slow play "to my face". Brooks arrived soon after, got the message & ambled over for a chat with the scientist.
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) August 11, 2019
The following year, DeChambeau made a comment about Koepka's pictures in ESPN's "Body Issue," saying "he didn't have any abs."
Koepka shot back on social media.
You were right @b_dechambeau I am 2 short of a 6 pack! pic.twitter.com/aCJ1jimId6
— Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) January 16, 2020
There also has been a video of Koepka rolling his eyes as DeChambeau walked behind him and fans chanting "Brooksie" at DeChambeau.
The players have been escalating the trash talk this week.
Koepka was asked why the event is only 12 holes.
“Eighteen holes with him is a long time,” Koepka said Monday evening. “I don’t want to be around him as much anybody else.”
The PGA Tour is offering a $40 million bonus pool for a “Player Impact Program” that is measured by various metrics, and DeChambeau suspects that’s what has been driving Koepka.
“It’s disgusting the way the guy has tried to knock me down,” DeChambeau said. “There’s no need for it in the game of golf. For what reason? I don’t know. Maybe he’s jealous and wants to get part of that PIP money from the tour.”
DeChambeau also recently took a shot at Koepka for his recent results.
Looks like @BKoepka is ready for the match. #thematch #capitalonesthematch pic.twitter.com/K1m1xe7CM4
— Bryson DeChambeau (@b_dechambeau) November 17, 2021
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady came up with another idea for the golfers on Friday.
Can we incorporate a hole next Friday where you guys start at opposite ends and actually hit golf balls at each other? @BKoepka @b_dechambeau https://t.co/5DAqpH4fNw
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) November 18, 2021
DeChambeau is ranked seventh in the world and Koepka is 16th.
DeChambeau has one major win -- the 2020 U.S. Open -- while Koepka has four -- the 2018 and '19 PGA Championship and 2017 and '18 U.S. Open.
-- With files from The Associated Press.