“I got abs. He didn’t even have abs in the Body Issue.”
It wasn’t said on a golf course. Not at a press conference. Not even during a heated interview. It came during a Twitch livestream, with Bryson DeChambeau casually trash-talking Brooks Koepka’s physique — a full-blown dig aimed at his ESPN Body Issue shoot. One of the most viral, unnecessary, and—depending on who you ask—hilarious or cringe moments in recent golf history.
The line wasn’t just petty. It was personal. And it detonated what was already a smoldering rivalry between two of the biggest personalities in golf.
Let’s rewind the tape.
Slow Play and a Fast Feud
The Koepka–DeChambeau feud didn’t start with abs. It started with pace.
Back in January 2019, Brooks Koepka publicly called out Bryson DeChambeau for his slow play, saying:
“I just don’t understand how it takes a minute and twenty seconds to hit a golf ball.”
Instead of confronting Koepka directly, Bryson went the indirect route. He approached Koepka’s caddie, Ricky Elliott, and said:
“Tell your man if he’s got something to say, say it to myself.”
Koepka wasn’t amused. And from there, the gloves came off.
Later that year, Bryson allegedly took another shot, telling Ricky to tell his “boss to get in the gym.”
Now, Koepka isn’t exactly known for biting his tongue. But what followed wasn’t just a war of words. It was the beginning of an all-out culture clash — gym rat vs. physics nerd, swagger vs. science.
Body Shots and Trophy Claps
If you were anywhere near a screen in early 2020, you saw the clip.
Bryson, gaming on Twitch, casually mocking Koepka’s Body Issue shoot:
“In the Body Issue he didn’t even have any abs. I got some abs.”
To be fair, it was delivered with a smirk. But Koepka’s response? A masterclass in icy retaliation.
He tweeted a photo of his four major championship trophies with the caption:
“You were right @b_dechambeau I am 2 short of a 6 pack!”
Absolute burn. No words wasted. Just four majors doing the talking.
And fans ate it up. Koepka’s tweet racked up over 110,000 likes. Bryson’s credibility? Not so much.
The Heckling Heard Round the Tour
As the feud spilled into the media and social feeds, fans picked a side — loudly.
At tournaments, DeChambeau was heckled with shouts of “Brooksie!” It got so bad the PGA Tour had to start removing spectators.
One guy even got kicked out for yelling it after a playoff loss. Bryson’s response?
“Get the f*** out.”
The “Brooksie” chants weren’t just trolling. They turned into a rally cry for Koepka’s fans. Meanwhile, Bryson was stuck trying to defend himself without making it worse — which, unfortunately, he often did.
The “Disgusting” Accusations
In 2021, ahead of their made-for-TV showdown, Bryson went even deeper.
“It’s disgusting the way the guy has tried to knock me down. There’s no need for it in the game of golf.”
He even suggested Koepka was fabricating drama to chase PIP (Player Impact Program) money:
“Maybe he’s just jealous. Maybe he wants a part of that PIP money.”
Now, calling someone out for faking a feud is bold — especially when you’re… in the middle of the feud. It painted Bryson as both the victim and the promoter. Not an easy look to pull off.
Some critics even said he was weaponizing the language of bullying to win public sympathy ahead of the match. Fans weren’t buying it.
The Forced Hug (and the Awkward Aftermath)
By the 2021 Ryder Cup, things had gotten so icy that Team USA had to choreograph a truce. The public reconciliation? A hug. On camera. At the request of their team.
DeChambeau later admitted:
“It definitely felt forced. There wasn’t an apology or anything like that.”
For two guys who had gone full WWE, it was… underwhelming. Like watching a reality show reunion where no one throws a drink.
LIV, Legacy, and Letting Go?
The feud finally cooled in 2022, when both players made the jump to LIV Golf. Without the PGA Tour spotlight — and with major money now coming from the same source — the tension faded.
By 2024, Koepka even walked back his role:
“I was wrong with what my original thoughts were… Bryson is severely misunderstood.”
DeChambeau, in return, congratulated Koepka after his fifth major win in 2023, calling for respect regardless of tour affiliation:
“No matter what tour you’re on… that’s five majors. He deserves respect.”
But the question lingers.
Did the feud end because they grew up? Or because the cameras stopped rolling?
Why It Still Stings
At the heart of it, this wasn’t just about gym comments or slow play. It was about two wildly different players who couldn’t stand each other’s approach to the game — and weren’t afraid to make it public.
DeChambeau’s comments weren’t just digs. They were deeply personal, and they came at moments when silence would’ve served him better.
And while the public eventually moved on, the scars — and the memes — remain.
Because in golf, as in life, sometimes it’s not just the shot that hurts. It’s the words that come before it.
“It’s disgusting the way the guy has tried to knock me down.” — Bryson DeChambeau
