Brooks Koepka has revealed the root of his ongoing feud with Bryson DeChambeau.
The pair have traded public barbs for the best part of the last year, but Koepka says the origin goes back even further.
Speaking ahead of this week's Open Championship, Koepka revealed the beef dates back to the Northern Trust in August of 2019.
"We had a conversation at Liberty National, and he didn't hold up his end of the bargain and I didn't like that, so I'll take my shots," Koepka told Tuesday's press conference.
The feud went overground at the PGA Championship when Koepka muttered his displeasure at the presence of DeChambeau behind him as he conducted a TV interview.
Detailing the Liberty National influence further, Koepka told reporters, "He didn't like that I had mentioned his name in slow play [regarding an incident earlier that year in Dubai], so we had a conversation in the locker room, and then I guess we said something else in the press conference but didn't mention his name in it, and he walked up to Ricky, said, ‘You tell your man if he's got something to say, say it to [my face].
“I thought that was ironic because he went straight to Ricky.”
Koepka has previously claimed the feud is actually good for golf, and doesn't believe it will impact the United States' chances at September's Ryder Cup.
“I'm not playing with him. I'm pretty sure we're not going to be paired together, put it that way," Koepka said.
"I think it's kind of obvious.
"We're not going to be high-fiving and having late-night conversations. I do my thing; he does his thing.”
DeChambeau had his chance to respond at Royal St. George's on Tuesday, saying, "He can say whatever he wants.
"I don’t know what he’s talking about. I don’t remember anything about [an agreement at Liberty National].
"I'm here to play golf."
While playing buddy-buddy at Whistling Straits appears to be off the table, it's not inconceivable the pair could be matched up over the final two days this week at Sandwich.
"I would enjoy it," Koepka said, "I'll be close to the final group come Sunday. I always feel like I play well in the big events, the majors.
"I think it would be a lot more people tuning in, with everything that's gone on over the last two years, something like that, three years.”
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