'I Don't Know What He Was Afraid Of' - Brooks Koepka Reacts After Missed Bumper Match-Up Against Bryson DeChambeau At LIV Golf Team Championship

Crushers GC and Smash GC face off in the semi-final of LIV Golf's Michigan Team Championship, but captains DeChambeau and Koepka won't play each other in a huge missed bumper match-up

Bryson DeChambeau hits a driver, Brooks Koepka stares at a putt
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The LIV Golf Michigan Team Championship has already thrown up a number of surprises, but fans are set to miss out on a huge match on Saturday.

Defeating Majesticks GC 2-1, Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers GC are through to a semi-final where, on Friday, their team captain selected Brooks Koepka's Smash GC, who won 2-1 against the 4Aces GC.

Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka shake hands

DeChambeau and Koepka during the 2023 PGA Championship

(Image credit: Getty Images)

As we saw in the majority of the six quarter-final matches, the teams' captains will usually face off against one another but, for their match, DeChambeau won't play long-time rival, Koepka.

Speaking in the press conference on Friday, Koepka stated: "I like myself in one (going out first), and (Talor) Gooch is playing good at the two slot. Then those guys (Jason Kokrak and Graeme McDowell) in foursomes played really solid today. We're not going to mess with a winning formula."

Upon hearing the news, DeChambeau then revealed his side's line-up for the semi final, explaining that: "Our foursomes choice will be the same today with Paul (Casey) and Charles (Howell III) playing together. Then I'm going to put Anirban (Lahiri) at No. 1 against Brooks, and then myself against Talor."

Certainly, the decision seemed to surprise some, with host and emcee Jason Zone Fisher asking DeChambeau why he had opted to swap his and Lahiri's spots around.

Answering that question, the two-time US Open winner said "I've got my reasons," before adding that "it's not personal, though, I can tell you that. It's not."

Although the reason for the swap is unclear, it caused some reaction from Koepka, with a video from the LIV Golf social media account showing the five-time Major winner asking the question "I don't know what the thinking was behind that."

He added "I'd probably say the people would want to see that (DeChambeau and Koepka match-up). I don't know what he was afraid of. I don't know, he beats to his own drum, so he's a strange cat."

In the quarter finals, DeChambeau got the better of Lee Westwood 4&2, while Lahiri lost his match against Sam Horsfield 2&1.

Away from that game, Koepka was defeated 1-down by former Ryder Cup teammate Dustin Johnson, while Gooch claimed an impressive 1-up win over match-play specialist Patrick Reed.

Bryson DeChambeau points to the crowd

DeChambeau's Crushers GC side claimed the Team Championship in 2023

(Image credit: Getty Images)

DeChambeau and Koepka's past has been heavily noted in the past, with the duo embroiled in, somewhat, of a feud that culminated in The Match in November 2021, with the latter winning 4&3.

The duo seemed to patch things up though a few years later on, even pairing up together in a PGA Tour vs LIV Golf showdown against Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy. In that match, the LIV pair lost to the World No.1 and 2.

There's still plenty of big matches to look forward to, though, at The Cardinal at Saint John’s course, despite DeChambeau and Koepka not facing off.

Legion XIII GC and HyFlyers GC will be the first match out, as Jon Rahm and Phil Mickelson face off, while Torque GC captain, Joaquin Niemann, will play Stinger GC's Dean Burmester.

After the semi finals, the winning teams on Saturday will play for the Team Championship title on Sunday’s stroke-play finals.

Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover news and social media.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. His favorite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: Ping G430 LST 15°, 19°

Irons: TaylorMade P.7CB

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1

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