The Brooks Eye-Roll Comes Into Focus Again After Bryson's Caddie Split

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Is this the moment Koepka hears Tim Tucker getting yelled at, Leading to the Man Feud with Bryson?

Is this the moment Koepka hears Tim Tucker getting yelled at, Leading to the Man Feud with Bryson?

Or is that a catty split?

Anyway, it’s been a mystery what made Brooks Koepka lose his train of thought, swear and stop a Golf Channel interview that is the most watched golf of the year and the stuff of Player Impact Program dreams. At least until the unintentionally viral video was (mostly) deleted online.

NFL writer Ian Rapoport has sources telling him what Koepka was “sick of” when hearing DeChambeau yapping away. If what he said on The Pat McAffee Show is true, this could solve one of golf’s great unsolved mysteries.

The clip:

Matsuyama Tests Positive For COVID-19, Open Championship Eligibility Unclear

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While Jon Rahm was able to take a private flight home to isolate and return after two negative COVID tests, the upcoming status of Hideki Matsuyama is unclear based on limited information.

The Masters Champion’s mid-Rocket Mortgage Classic WD came after testing positive is the fifth since testing began. A PGA Tour statement did not suggest he was part of a contact tracing watch or if he was tested due to possible symptoms. He may have simply chosen not to be vaccinated and was infected during travels.

But as Adam Schupak notes for Golfweek, the rules are much tougher in the UK and the Open Championship looms in 12 days.

But will that be soon enough to play in the British Open, which is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks at Royal St George’s in England. The R&A recently informed contestants of its stiff requirements. It’s unclear whether the 29-year-old Japanese star will be required to self-quarantine in England upon his arrival, given his recent case of COVID. Based on the information at hand, it would appear Matsuyama’s ability to compete in the final major of 2021 potentially is in doubt.

Round one playing partner Phil Mickelson was asked about the news following his round.

I'm certainly concerned because although I've made every effort to not be around people, even playing partners even though they were tested because you just don't know. With the British Open, I think it's a concern on whether Hideki-san is able to play the British Open. Hopefully, he can. We're at the point now where if you were to come down with COVID, like you can't go to the U.K. and play. That's why we're all being so careful. I've been vaccinated, but still, people who have been vaccinated still get it. We're doing--myself, my brother, Andrew Getz and the people we're with are trying to stay as isolated and as careful as we can.

And…

It's certainly unsettling to know that I spent the entire day that close, but also as I look back, I know that I kept my distance from everybody and tried to stay six feet and tried--so I think we're all being as responsible as we can. And I'm very sorry that that happened to him and I hope he's able to play the British, and I also hope that Rickie and his caddie Joey and myself and my brother, that we're okay, too.

When A Player-Caddie Breakup Spoils Your Brand Rollout, Rocket Mortgage Edition

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Not that the brand wizards at Rocket Mortgage could have anticipated a player-caddie breakup, but running the new golf-focused ad post-DeChambeau/Tucker divorce is going to make for a very long weekend.

DeChambeau missed the cut and declined to speak to media after his first and second rounds. He did post this to Instagram, however:

The Rocket commercial on the very likelihood you were doing something other than watching early round coverage:

If it were me—and I’m no brand expert—I’d beam over some Tracey Morgan spots pronto to make the weekend viewing a little less awkward.

Craigslist Ad Briefly Appears Looking For Detroit-Area Caddie

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This one has already been taken down, but thanks to savvy reader Isiah T. for screen-grabbing this Craigslist ad while searching for some work.

At first glimpse, it sounds like Bryson DeChambeau’s open caddie position was briefly advertised on Detroit Craigslist? However, I’m suspicious it might be a fake. I know, I know.

But Bryson’s not GoMacroBar guy. Or the Craigslist type. More of a ZipRecruiter chap if I had to guess.

Plus, he managed to get a fill-in for his Rocket Mortgage Classic-opening 72.

Bryson Splits With Caddie And Brooks Celebrates By Announcing Caddie Ricky Elliott Appreciation Day

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Brooks Koepka made a huge passing PIP move by taking news of Bryson DeChambeau splitting with his caddie and piling up the Meltwaters with upbeat social media!

Koepka’s positive news first because I really don’t like the world of manspatting.

But you have to be impressed by 49K likes on a Tweet. That’s some serious PIP pointage. There is also the enjoyment Koepka inevitably enjoyed hitting send on this. Because he loves his Ricky!

And many thousands of likes on the Gram, too!

As for DeChambeau, he lost the services of caddie Tim Tucker at some point Wednesday night or Thursday morning. The bagman for all of Bryson’s wins decided he’d had enough and No Laying Up had the news first.

From Golfweek’s Adam Schupak at the Rocket Mortgage Classic where DeChambeau is defending champion:

“I love the kid,” Tucker texted Golfweek. “Hardest worker I have ever seen. Proud to have been his caddie. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him win Rocket Mortgage. He is hitting it great.”

Tucker caddied for DeChambeau in the practice rounds this week, including Wednesday’s pro-am. Tucker has been on the bag for DeChambeau for all of his eight PGA Tour victories, including the 2020 U.S. Open. DeChambeau went through a slew of caddies early in his career, including a previous break with Tucker, before making him his steady bagman in 2018.

DeChambeau’s agent told various outlets that it was a mutual agreement, separate ways thing.

No PIP points for that kind of dreary news!

**Sam Harrop was inspired by the latest Brookson exchange to re-imagine The Scientist by Coldplay.

PGA Tour Ending COVID-19 On-Site Testing In July, Vaccination Rate Unknown

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GolfDigest.com’s Tod Leonard reports that players have been notified of the full scale COVID-19 testing coming to an end at the 3M Championship this July. No player has been known to test positive since Jon Rahm’s high-profile case at the Memorial, one of around 35 detected or reported after players revealed to have experienced the virus (but not testing positive under the Tour program).

Leonard says there will still be testing available to those who experience symptoms and daily health surveys but could not get a vaccination rate out of the Tour.

I reported earlier this month that the LPGA was at 60% full vaccination of players, caddies and staff as of early this month and no positive cases since March.

According to Leonard, the unvaccinated will have to undergo contact tracing if they test positive.

Though unvaccinated people don’t have to undergo testing, according to the memo, there are distinctions made. Vaccinated individuals will not have to undergo contact tracing should they be around someone who has COVID-19, while those who haven’t been vaccinated must notify the tour and follow contact tracing protocols.

The memo says that those who have been vaccinated “should” upload a copy of their vaccination record to their Healthy Roster account, but the tour will require proof of vaccination should the player be involved in a contact tracing situation, a tour spokesperson said.

The story also notes this:

Since testing began, more than 25 tour players have tested positive for COVID-19, including some of the game’s most high-profile athletes: Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau, Adam Scott, Gary Woodland and Padraig Harrington. No PGA Tour player has reported serious illness or hospitalization due to the coronavirus.

It was Golf Digest’s Undercover Caddie that suggested there have been players hit harder than reported:

A few of the guys who did test positive got really sick, more than fans have been led to believe, and that certainly got our attention.

Given that the LPGA Tour has a better track record on positive cases this year despite a more worldly schedule and far less private jet travel, they were able to report vaccination rates without violating anyone’s privacy. In light of that, the Tour’s program seems like it should be able to end on a brighter note of at least some disclosure and assurance that it’s in line with vaccination rates seen in general society.

Matthew Wolff On TV Announcers Making Golf Sound Too Easy

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Matthew Wolff after a U.S. Open first round 70, discussing at length his attitude and recent inability to find happiness on the course:

“I was talking to Bubba Watson earlier on the range this week and he told me he stopped watching golf, he only watches LPGA because they're so positive. He goes, LPGA is like the commentators, like everyone is just so positive, like every shot they hit is the best shot ever. And I think that -- and I'm not, I'm not like hating on the LPGA, I think it's awesome, because like these shots are hard out here and it's like, you know, sometimes they're describing a shot and they make it sound easy and it's not. And it's just, I'm only trying to have positive thoughts in my head and be positive. And I mean, kudos to pretty much every professional athlete out there, it's, I haven't been in this world for a long time, but it's fucking hard.”

I don’t think this will help announcers to feel emboldened to say what they think.

"We recognize the image-crafting guardrails that surround every sport, and we perk up when we see them falling."

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Writing for the New York Times Magazine, Elizabeth Nelson captures why so many are fascinated with the tension between Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau. And it’s not the Player Impact Program points chase.

All this suggests the two sports are having difficulty understanding both their audiences and their athletes. They proceed from the premise that their tissue-thin veneer of high-minded sportsmanship and sometimes incomprehensible notions of etiquette are celebrated attributes, not turnoffs. But evidence suggests the opposite. Fans don’t want pageantry; they want intimacy. Increasingly, the stories that grab the public are those that break up the placid, corporatized surface of the game — a tennis star who chooses self-care over a major, or two large golfers who seem ready to fistfight. We recognize the image- crafting guardrails that surround every sport, and we perk up when we see them falling. Is this what happens when sports stop being polite and start getting real?

Korn Ferry Kerfuffle! Golfer Arrested For Assaulting Qualifying Partner While Daddy Stands Guard With A Putter!

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There are some days more than others when you wish His Ownself could see satire playing out on the links. I’m not sure I’ve read a more bizarre account on multiple levels than this must click-on doozy from Firepit Collective’s Ryan French.

The short version: Wichita Open Monday qualifying featured an 8:10 am tee time with Austen Dailey, Derek Fribbs and Luke Smith. On the bag for Luke, a University of Tennessee-Martin golfer, is dad Oliver, President of Capital Prime. The group struggled and fell behind. Luke and Oliver Smith were reportedly not keen on helping the others look for a few lost balls and even did not like having to put the pin in the hole after putting out.

Well okay then.

The situation came to a boil on the Par-3 seventh hole. Dailey hit his tee shot left of the green. Fribbs, ever the sportsmen, went to help Dailey look for his ball. Allegedly, the Smiths did not help in the search for Dailey’s ball. In an effort to speed up play, Fribbs holed out first and headed for the eighth tee to play his next shot and try and get the group back in position. After Dailey completed the hole he said something to Smiths about how helping to look for shots might help speed the group up. This was apparently a bridge too far for the Smiths.  According to Fribbs Luke and Oliver Smith started yelling at Dailey about his quality of play and how it was affecting the group. Oliver went on to make it clear that his son Luke, “wasn’t here to look for balls.” 

Fathers and sons. From there son Luke jumped on Dailey while dad did this…

The elder Smith allegedly waved a putter at Fribbs- and anyone else with an eye on jumping into the fracas. (Oliver Smith’s putter-waving was was later confirmed by another PGA Section official on site.)

Anyway it goes on from there with an arrest for Smith but no word on dad for his role. Check out the full account here.

**Oh more fun imagery for the Dateline reenactment…

Brooks: "I just have a harder time focusing in regular PGA Tour events than I do majors"

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After missing the Palmetto Invitational cut, Brooks Koepka says he’s still having trouble focusing in non-majors. From Steve DiMeglio’s Golfweek report:

“I don’t try to miss a cut. I just have a harder time focusing in regular PGA Tour events than I do majors,” he said. “Majors, I know I’m locked in from the moment I hit the first tee shot. Even walking from the first tee shot to the ball, my head is still going on what I need to do. Out here I kind of lose focus for a little bit.

“I’ve got to figure it out. That’s why I struggle, I think, in regular events. It’s the focus and the energy, the excitement level just isn’t there when it would be in a major. It’s different. I thrive off that bigger stage, that big moment where there’s a bunch of fans and a tough golf course. I love it.”

Well I know he meant to say PGA Tour events, playoff events notwithstanding.

At least Koepka finished and stayed to chat.

There was a fairly pitiful leaderboard sight involving many added late to help keep the field at 156 and those playing opportunity incentives safe.

Rahm Opens Up Six-Stroke Memorial Lead, Tests Positive For COVID-19 And It's A Total Mess

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AP’s Doug Ferguson reported on the shocking twist Saturday, with this scene getting a lot of attention after Jon Rahm opened a six-stroke Memorial lead:

The positive test was confirmed, the results returned as he was on the 18th green. Rahm was been asymptomatic all week.

He was withdrawn from the tournament, leaving Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa tied for the lead at 12-under 204.

“It’s kind of the worst situation for something like that to happen and he played awesome today and it’s just, it’s really a shame,” Cantlay said.

The PGA Tour statement revealed Rahm as having been exposed May 31st. He was in daily testing and his 4:20 pm result tested positive again at 6:03 pm while Rahm was on the 18th fairway. A “close contact” in the Tour guidelines is within six feet of a positive person for 15 minutes.

PGA Tour VP Andy Levinson answered questions after the withdrawal and could not confirm Rahm’s vaccination status. However, he did say Rahm is in the PGA Tour testing program still, essentially confirming he is not vaccinated for COVID-19.

Q. Can you say if Jon has been vaccinated and if he had been, would he not then have been required to test every day?

ANDY LEVINSON: I can't speak to Jon's vaccination status. That's an individual situation. But he was still part of our testing program, and he was required, under our contact tracing protocol to test as a result of that.

Q. So is it then fair to say that anyone who, had they been vaccinated still would have had to test every day like he did?

ANDY LEVINSON: Not necessarily. If someone had been fully vaccinated, and fully vaccinated under our protocol is, and it's defined by the CDC, is 14 days past the full cycle of a vaccination. They do not have to test as a result of being a close contact.

Q. If I could just ask one more. Thank you. Is there any consideration given to allowing him to -- allowing him to play simply because we're outdoors, the spacing, he wasn't being allowed to go indoors. I take it based on your earlier answer that the answer is no, but I just wonder if you could address that part.

ANDY LEVINSON: No, the CDC's protocol regarding people who are confirmed positive for COVID-19 is clear, and that is 10 days of isolation unless someone is asymptomatic and is able to produce two negative tests of a minimum of 24 hours apart. Unfortunately, the timing would not allow Jon to continue to participate.

Levinson also revealed the PGA Tour player vaccination rate is tracking “north of 50%”.

CBS handled the surprise news well, staying on as they were seconds from signing off due to the round lasting past their allotted time.

Jim Nantz, upon seeing Rahm’s reaction, said “this is not good” and after a few moments, stated somberly “we have no idea folks” before describing Rahm’sreaction as “instant devastation.” Part of the sequence:

Rahm spoke to media after completing his rain-delayed second round Saturday morning. Maskless:

Jack Nicklaus offered his sympathy via Twitter:

Rahm took to Twitter to thank fans and was met with sympathetic calls to have gotten vaccinated sooner.

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Other player reaction has included scorn toward the Tour for releasing the news (Wesley Bryan) or even claims of government heavy-handedness (Jimmy Walker) preventing Tour officials from letting Rahm play Sunday:

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Bryson Leaves It To The Tour To Address Brooks Who Says He's Growing The Game With Michelob Stunt

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The headlines just write themselves these days!

For those tracking the Brooksy saga, we have updates.

Brooks Koepka spoke to Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch about his pledge to offer brewskies to his Brooksy-howling booted bros just living under par.

“I’d never condone anyone being a distraction during someone’s swing or when they are about to hit,” he said. “As professionals, we do enjoy fans getting engaged at the appropriate times. It’s part of sport and competition. Hecklers are always going to be a part of any live performance. We all know that out there. We all get called different names. I’ve been called DJ many times, even when I was slipping at Bethpage [where a faltering Koepka held off Dustin Johnson in the ’19 PGA]. It’s part of it. He even said he considers it flattering.”

“With the Michelob Ultras, I wanted fans to know I saw what was going on and I appreciate fans who care about golf. It’s great to see fans out there loving it, having fun after a year of no one.”

LUP it up!

This quote alone could be the swan song for “grow the game”:

“I’m not condoning disrespectful or inappropriate behavior,” he replied. “I’m engaging in helping grow the game of golf and growing the Tour. I’m here for people being engaged and excited about golf, as long as it doesn’t cross the line.”

Meanwhile Bryson DeChambeau sounds less amused with all of the back and forth in the name of game growth.

He was all over the place after his third round but talked about his PIP prospects rising thanks to Brooks mentions. Take that FedExCup!

Q. Did you see a certain video last night from Brooks?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I heard about it through my manager and whatever, but, no. First off, I wanted to say like the fans were awesome today. They came out, supported me. Obviously you're going to have people saying things, but again it doesn't -- like I said yesterday, it doesn't rile me up, it doesn't affect me or anything like that. So it's great banter, it's fun, but the fans were awesome, the golf course is in great shape, I can't say much more than that.

Q. You didn't see it, but you heard about it. Are you surprised? I mean, like that it's going to escalate it like sort of, is that sort of what happened, I think.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, I think that's something that the TOUR needs to handle, it's something I can't control. I tried to take the high road numerous times and I think that, from my perspective, I'll continue to keep doing so and people are going to do what they want to do. So it is what it is.

Q. Do you in any way think, in a strange way, that this is good that people are talking about it, people are talking about golf?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I mean, I don't even know how to answer that question. Like for, from an integrity standpoint and an honor of the game standpoint, you know, the game has always been played in a certain way. I think golf is changing, it's evolving, so there's going to come a time where it is going to be like this and if I'm the person to take the brunt of it and whatever, you know, great. I'm happy that there's more conversations about me because of the PIP Fund.

🤮

Q. That idea of honor and kind of the way that the game is played, for you, what's like that fine line of things that happen in other sports, right, where you might hear things from the stands versus out here?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: I love what's been going on. I've had no issue with it whatsoever. I think that when it gets to a point where -- I would say tennis and golf are the only two sports where like when you're hitting a shot everybody's usually quiet. If it comes out to a point where they're affecting like your swing, like they're saying in your swing, that's a little over the line, but everything else, I don't care.

Q. Have you had conversations with the TOUR about this?

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, my agent has.

Q. And can you give us a kind of a drift on which way, what it's about? I mean, obviously, you said it doesn't bother you.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Yeah, it's more about how, I think, and this is what I don't really know about, but I think it's something along the lines of how the TOUR wants players to act, I think. That's about it. But from my perspective, I mean, if he keeps talking about me, that's great for the PIP Fund.

And I’m sure he meant to mention his real focus remains on the FedExCup and the Comcast Business Solutions thing.

As The PIP Race Turns: "Brooksy" Calls Lead To Ejections, Koepka Engages By Offering Michelob Ultra's

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An aborted Brooks Koepka interview with Golf Channel continues to spread in new and bizarre ways after Bryson DeChambeau was subjected to light Memorial Tournament heckling on Friday.

At least ten spectators were ejected for yelling “Brooksy” at DeChambeau over the course of his 33 holes. Some suggested DeChambeau pointed out his hecklers to police, though he said he did not care in post round remarks.

From ESPN.com’s Bob Harig:

"Oh, they weren't taunts at all, it was flattering,'' DeChambeau said after shooting 72 in the second round. "I think it's absolutely flattering what they're doing. They can keep calling me that all day if they want to, I've got no issue with it. When you look at it, to most people it's they think it's a distraction, but I grew up learning how to deal with that stuff and I honestly thought it was flattering.''

DeChambeau said he did not ask for anyone to be removed, that "the officers take care of that. I don't really care.''

This on-site accounting disagreed:

Looking to move up the formerly-secret Player Impact Program race exposed by Golfweek’s Eamon Lynch, Brooks Koepka wasted no time in scooping up valuable engagement, retweets, Google searches and Meltwater mentions. This, even though he’s not playing this week’s Memorial:

Pagunsan Qualifies For The Open Using 11 Clubs Prompting Yet More Calls To Just Try It One Lousy Week You Tour Dullards!

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Okay maybe I got a little carried away with that header.

But for those who’ve long wondered what it would be like to see today’s decathletes play a reduced set of clubs. Because there would be the ensuing shotmaking, plus lots of chatter about how the team at (fill in gratuitous manufacturer plug here) helped tweak the bag to cover the numbers.

So it’s with this in mind Alistair Tait celebrates Juvic Pagunsan needing just 11 clubs to win the Japan Tour’s Gateway to The Open Mizuno Open last weekend. With caddies forbidden due to Covid-19, Pagunsan lightened his bag of the 3, 4, 6 and 8 irons while adding a hybrid.

Tait suggests the overall max number should be lowered, but I’d take just a tournament here or there where it was the Local Rule. Anyway, Tait explains what Pagunsan was thinking:

Not only did he win to qualify for Royal St George’s, he did so by three shots with a 17-under 199 thanks to scores of 66, 65 and 68. So much for 14 clubs.

“What do I do when I need 6-iron? Well, I will just adjust it by using different club,” Pagunsan told the Japan Tour website.

“On 11th, wind was blowing at me and I had 160 yards to play, and I used my 5 Iron, what choice do I have?"

"Since I didn't have much choice of clubs, I didn't have to think too much to choose," he added.

John Daly Said He Was Offered $1 Million To Tank The Open

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John Daly gave a 2014 interview to “In Depth with Graham Bensinger” that included a revealing claim about attempted bribery to tank a tournament. The clip was just posted on YouTube this week.

Jenna Limoncelli of the New York Post reported on the revelation of attempted bribery while Daly was leading the 1995 Open.

“He says, ‘Look if you tank it, I’ll give you a million bucks,’ ”

As for Daly’s response?

“I said, ‘Go…f–k yourself. No way,'” he remembered.

Daly recounted other times being approached by gamblers.

The full clip: