'Rivals' DeChambeau-Keppka Face Off in 1-on-1 Match "We Ignore Each Other"

Special Event The Match Pride Battle, DeChambeau "I'll Teach a Lesson" vs Kepka "Only Winners Deserve to Boast"

'Rivals' Bryson DeChambeau (left) and Brooks Koepka will face off in a battle of pride at the special event The Match.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] "We ignore each other."

This is the true feeling between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka (both from the USA), two of the most prominent 'rivals' on the PGA Tour. Ahead of the 'Capital One’s The Match' held on the 27th (Korean time) at The Wynn Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, they engaged in a fierce battle of nerves starting from the virtual press conference. When asked to describe their relationship, DeChambeau said, "It's a relationship of ignoring each other," and Koepka responded, "It's a non-existent relationship."

The Match is a special event that first took place in November 2018 when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson (both from the USA) faced off. Since then, it has been played in a fun way by adding stars from the NFL and NBA. DeChambeau has experience teaming up with NFL star Aaron Rodgers (USA) last July. The atmosphere for the fifth edition of The Match is cold. Due to sharp conflicts, they even prepared their own mindset before the game.

The two players have been growling at each other since 2019. The trigger was DeChambeau’s ‘slow play.’ Koepka criticized him bluntly. Their ‘battlefield’ is social media. Koepka posted a photo of a player who took banned substances around the time DeChambeau was bulking up. In response, DeChambeau shot back, "I have abs, but Koepka doesn’t." The fight continued even after the first round of The Open last July, where they clashed over DeChambeau’s Cobra driver.

At the Ryder Cup, the intercontinental golf competition between the USA and the European Union held last September, they had an awkward hug right after winning. Koepka explained, "I don’t put much weight on forced scenes." There was also analysis that the one-on-one match play might have created a reconciliation mood. However, the atmosphere froze again ahead of The Match. Koepka proposed a 12-hole match instead of 18 holes. "If I can spend less time with DeChambeau, I’ll do anything," he said.

DeChambeau, on the rooftop of the hotel at The Wynn Golf Club where the tournament will be held, hit a 520-yard long drive and engraved Koepka’s face on the target. He revealed his true feelings, saying, "The conflict with Koepka is real," and "I’m counting the days until I can punish him." In response, Koepka also fired back, saying, "It’s time to settle this," and "Only one of us will be entitled to brag." Both will be wearing microphones. Interest is already high about what kind of showdown this tournament will bring.