Brooks Koepka Admits He Was Wrong About DeChambeau as Former Rivals Bury the Hatchet
Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau have officially buried their long-standing feud, with both golfers expressing mutual respect ahead of their upcoming collaboration at the Crypto.com Showdown.
The once-bitter rivalry, which began in 2019 over pace-of-play concerns in Dubai and escalated through social media disputes and fan confrontations, has evolved into a respectful partnership since both players joined LIV Golf.
During a recent press conference, Koepka acknowledged his change of heart: "We've come a long way. Going to LIV was a big moment for us. We were communicating a lot more, and our conversation became more open." He admitted to being initially stubborn but now sees DeChambeau as "a good dude" who was "severely misunderstood."
DeChambeau reciprocated the sentiment, comparing their relationship to "stepbrothers" and noting how they discovered common ground after joining LIV Golf. "We had our spats, but we've developed a pretty solid relationship and have good respect for each other now," he said.
The former rivals will team up against PGA Tour players Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in the Crypto.com Showdown, scheduled for December 17 in Las Vegas. This partnership marks a significant shift from their previous conflicts, which included the famous eye-roll incident at the 2021 PGA Championship and subsequent fan confrontations at the Memorial Championship.
Their reconciliation demonstrates how shared circumstances and maturity can transform even the most contentious relationships in professional golf.