The rivalry between Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau may have just been reignited. By the two major champions not playing against each other.
Both Koepka and DeChambeau are in action this week at LIV Golf’s Team Championship in Michigan. But when their respective teams advanced to meet in the semifinals, DeChambeau, the Crushers captain, decided to play against Talor Gooch instead of his longtime nemesis. And Koepka found it to be a curious choice given the pair’s long history.
“Yeah, I don’t know what he’s—I don’t know what the thinking was behind that,” Koepka said on Friday of DeChambeau not playing him. “I’d probably say the people would want to see that. I don’t know what he was afraid of.”
Koepka’s Smash GC plays DeChambeau’s Crushers on Saturday in a mixed format. DeChambeau will play Gooch and Koepka will play Anirban Lahiri in singles while the Crushers’ pair of Paul Casey and Charles Howell III will play Smash’s Graeme McDowell and Jason Kokrak in best ball.
“He beats to his own drum,” Koepka added. “He’s a strange cat.”
Hmm. It should be pointed out that Gooch has been by far Smash’s best player this year. Gooch ranks sixth in the season-long standings, while Koepka is 31st (DeChambeau is third). Anyway, watch Koepka’s comments—and DeChambeau’s reasoning—here:
Bryson picks Lahiri to face Brooks, here’s what they said… 👀#LIVGolfMichiganpic.twitter.com/Z9SnEZ3JKc
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) August 22, 2025
Much has been made of the Koepka-DeChambeau rivalry through the years, but the two have become less feisty recently. They took a fun photo together in 2023 and even partnered for last year’s Crypto.com Showdown, losing to Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy in a match that pitted LIV and PGA Tour stars.
“I’ve got my reasons,” DeChambeau said when asked about his decision. “It ain’t personal, I can tell you that. It’s not personal. It’s not.”
