Golf-Feuding Koepka, DeChambeau avoid heavyweight pairing at U.S. Open
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[June 19, 2021]
By Andrew Both
SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Reuters) - The
intriguing prospect of feuding Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau
playing together in the third round at the U.S. Open has been
narrowly avoided, even though they were locked on the same score
after the second round on Friday.
Pairings for the third round were done automatically, and several
players finished on the same even-par 142 halfway total between when
DeChambeau got done early and Koepka came in late at Torrey Pines.
Therefore, though they equal 13th, the American heavyweights will
tee off 33 minutes apart on Saturday -- Koepka with Canadian Adam
Hadwin at 11.56 am local time (1856 GMT), followed later by
DeChambeau with South African Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
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There will two pairings in-between.
It might prove a blessing for both to avoid what would have been a
most vociferous gallery to say the least, judging by the number of
boorish loudmouths only too happy to scream out while following some
of the bigger names on Friday.
The feud between Koepka and DeChambeau started after a Golf Channel
tape that never went to air was leaked showing Koepka rolling his
eyes and making some disparaging remarks as DeChambeau walked in
view of the camera after last month's PGA Championship.
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![](../images/061921PIX/golf%20feuding_small.JPG)
Brooks Koepka lines up a putt on the
18th green during the second round of the U.S. Open golf tournament
at Torrey Pines Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA
TODAY Sports
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After struggling to find the fairway
with only five tee shots on Friday, Koepka had more to worry about
than DeChambeau, namely to figure out why he had been so wayward.
It is more difficult to impart spin on the ball from the rough and
stop it quickly on the greens, and Koepka said it had been difficult
therefore to get his approach shots close to the pins from the long
grass.
"It's a U.S. Open golf course. If you're not going to hit
the fairway, you're going to struggle," said the four-time major
champion.
"But I hung in there and wasn't too bad, I guess.
"I love the way I'm putting."
(Reporting by Andrew Both; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)
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