So now comes our kindly Ryder Cup captain and that would be “Mr. ‘Sconsin” aka Steve Stricker who believes with all his cheese-head heart that there’s a truce looming between non-wiining in 2021 Brooks Koepka and vaccine-shunning, Kyle Berkshire-admiring, National Long Drive-entering, distance-obsessed Bryson DeChambeau.
Stricksie (yeah, that’s what Tiger calls him) believes that because he recently spoke to both young lions and they assured him that they could co-exist in the U.S. team room without challenging each other to an arm-wrestling contest.
Yeah, Stricksie, what did you expect them to say?
Seems Stricker told the scribes (what few are remaining) at Sports Illustrated (is it still a magazine?) that both Brooks and Bryson have no issues whatsoever.
Maybe Stricksie forgot that Brooksie recently declared: “I can deal with anybody in the world for week.” Hopefully Koepka has excluded the Taliban from that “anybody” list.
Truth be known, no social media cannonballs or small arms fire have been exchanged between Brooksie and Bryson in a while. Actually Koepka hasn’t needed to chide Bryson, the fans on site have been taking care of business for him as Bryson has been inundated with the old “Brooksie” chants, especially in Memphis. Truth be known, Bryson has had a miserable showing in the majors this season and this summer in particular — T26 at the U.S. Open and T33 at the Open Championship. Last week Bryson sprayed it all over Liberty National and finished T31.
No no need for Koepka to go out on a limb to embarrass Bryson, DeChambeau has taken care of that quite nicely lately with his quality of play.
On the other hand, Koepka was pretty decent in the two summer majors — T4 at the U.S. Open and T5 at the Open Championship. But he was no factor in the first playoff event — Brooksie was a lowly T31 at Liberty National.
Meanwhile, Captain Stricker is buying what Koepka and DeChambeau are selling: “They assured me that the team and the country and everything else that goes into this is their priority. They said it’s not going to be an issue, and I believe them. I trust them. As far as I’m concerned, it’s been put to bed.”
Well, truth be known, Brooksie and Bryson, well, it’s kinda like putting children to bed — they may or may not go to sleep anytime soon. Take notes, Captain Stricksie.
Now if Brooks wanted to really “put this to bed,” he might have suggested to Captain Stricksie: “Hey Steve, look, I’m so over any hard feelings that I’d like to play with Bryson in one of the foursome matches!”
Great suggestion but there would most likely be ice cubes distributed in Hell before that would happen.
Even Stricker isn’t convoluted enough to pull a Hal Sutton and pair Brooks and Bryson. Yeah, remember Phil and Tiger? How’d that work out for Hal?
“I’m not going to tell you there’s no chance, but I don’t see it happening, no. I don’t think they want to play together,” Stricker observed. Talk about perceptive! You can’t pull the wool over Stricksie’s eyes!
In the meantime, Stricksie has even bigger issues.
It’s not like guys like Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele have been unleashing their “A” games the past couple of weeks.
Time is flying here. The countdown to Whistling Straits and the Ryder Cup matches is now T-minus 29 days and counting.
Stricker still has to mull over captain’s picks and those come after the Tour Championship next week.
Yeah Stricks, you’ve got a lot to think about.
And if you find yourself in a quandary, give Phil and Tiger a call. They’ll tell you what works and what doesn’t.
12 Comments
baxter cepeda
They will obviously not play together.
But will somebody be able to break the ice between them so the team room isn’t too cold.
Because while these two are learning to just live with each other for a week, the euros are all gonna be bugging, kissing, singing and dancing and whatever else they do to create that magical chemistry.
I’m not worried about US form as much as the same old chemistry issues which we already get out butts kicked regularly at. The US are supposed to have an advantage in chemistry being from the same country but Europe’s chemistry advantage seems to only be growing.
It’s possible Great chemistry helps most with Putting; which is why they always seem to putt better in this event.
US can let bygones be that all the team wants but the fact we know there’s no chance Bryson and brooks play together shows there is still an issue which could cost US the W (as it often does).
Tom Edrington
Maybe you recall or maybe you don’t that Phil and Tiger hung out on opposite sides of the team room…..there was an old joke on tour when both were in their prime you were either a FOP or an FOT — FOP — Friend Of Phil and got to play practice rounds with Phil; Friend of Tiger, got to play practice rounds with Tiger, we’re pretty sure there weren’t players who got to play practice rounds with both…..
baxter cepeda
Yes for a little while it was like that. But thy never really had an issue with each other. They always seemed to maintain a cordial relationship. They played ping ping early on.
Tiger and Phil back then seemed worst than it was imo.
A big factor for who played with who is that Phil always seems like he like to hang with young guns and tiger seemed to like hanging with some of the older guys like Mark and Freddie back then.
Tiger was obviously extremely guarded back then. He felt more comfortable around guys past their prime.
Keep in mind Mark showed tiger a pga tour rope or 2 but Tiger basically helped Mark win multiple majors in his 40s just by being in his presence. Imagine what Tiger would have created back then hanging with Phil or other players closer to his age…Nothing he wanted.
Tiger, as you know, finally changed during his back issues and became friends with many young guns, including many of Phil’s friends like Rickie.
Like a FINAU win Finally Phil and Tiger started having the relationship the golf community always wanted for them. They now fully and openly enjoy the things they do together while clearly remaining very motivated to beat each other.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: Truth be known, Tiger wasn’t well liked in his prime, that’s why he hung out with guys who were already well past theirs; When he went through his massive issues, he didn’t even speak to those guys; Truth be known, Tiger had virtually zero friends on tour and didn’t want any….he had pretty much become Earl, who had the reputation as a surly womanizer (sound familiar?) Tiger also through his prime playing days, refused to sit down with the finest golf writer of the day — Dan Jenkins. Now that Tiger’s children are grown, he’s changed his behavior – he doesn’t want them ready about the sort of exploits that we all witnessed….that was the main catalyst for his behavioral changes. No, Tiger and Phil were as far from chummy back then as it gets…
baxter cepeda
I never said chummy. I said cordial.
I understand a lot of people think what you think about tigers popularity early on.
But from my close observations everybody wanted to be tigers friend even when he was a jerk. Funny thing is tiger chose friendships with some of the nicest, highest character and most popular guys. He kept most other players at arms length by his choice.
When the scandal happened tiger understandably went even deeper into a shell. His friends on tour were as supportive as they could be from a distance while also expressing their distaste.
Eventually tiger had his tough conversations with his tour friends and resumed his relationships; and when finally ready tiger added many more buddies, including Phil.
Tiger did change for his kids. But missed time, lessons learned and age have factored as well.
As for Dan Jenkins Notah just said an amazing line on Golf Central to Lerner when the anchor said Bryson should have talked to all the media after his 60….unfortunately I forgot Begays great line.
But the point was that media is not entitled to get interviews from athletes; unless contractually obligated. notah elaborated there is a give and take between athletes and writers. Sometimes writers lose the privilege to talk to certain athletes; I will add even if it is a Dan Jenkins.
I personally understand this from athletes. I for one don’t even like the way politicians private lives are treated. But I really do not appreciate how many journalists believe athletes and other celebrities deserve no privacy whatsoever.
Many top athletes perceive media take their time asking negative questions to build negative articles. So why help that? Obviously this is a huge issue in sports these days —this is Osaka’s famous issue with media which led her to WD from a major. Top athletes increasingly understand if they don’t have to do it and don’t want to do it why do it? Tiger was way ahead of his time in this regard.
Tom Edrington
Whoa, Whoa, Whoa — IT IS NOT A PRIVILEGE FOR WRITERS TO INTERVIEW ATHLETES, IN FACT IT IS QUITE THE OPPOSITE…..THINGS ARE ONLY NEGATIVE WHEN ATHLETES DO NEGATIVE THINGS IT’S CALLED REPORTING ….. notice it’s all in caps, and that’s because this time you were dead wrong, Baxter; I’m sure Bryson will get notification from The SHERIFF that he will do interviews, the TOUR is very, very sticky about its perception out there and Bryson is doing is best to become a heel; It’s not the media’s job to be a PR company for his career…or anyone else’s…….as for Osaka, she’s from this new generation that is mentally weak…..Tiger always did post round interviews…..Bryson ignored on site media and gave interview to Golf.com, which pays him; Sends a very bad message and I know the Tour won’t stand for it.
baxter cepeda
We will see what happens to Bryson. But it seems Bryson talks to everyone he is obligated to talk to. It doesn’t seem the tour demands players talk to everyone who wants an interview. Bryson has been boycotting print news for a while now.
Another issue that happens as Osaka said everyone asks the same friggin questions. Even after wins that gets old.
Athletes feel reporters ask questions which get in athletes heads which then affects performance. It’s not just about big controversies.
I’m not wrong Tom. Back in the day athletes needed reporters and still do to an extent but things are very different now with socials and what not.
The relationship is officially more of a privilege for most reporters than it is for big time athletes; many of these athletes have more followers than the news sources they feel trolled by.
It’s an important conversations. But as you say we can agree to disagree.
Tom Edrington
Oh Baxter, Baxter, Baxter, you’re putting these athletes on a pedestal like some child…shame on you. As for the Tour, I can tell you they do have policies about players going to press room, always have…the Tour is VERY VERY sensitive about its image and bend over backwards for media members, which by the way are going away and the tour knows it and needs to keep happy the few that are left…..endorsements come as a result of exposure and that comes through press, short film stories, etc……and yes, you are wrong and I’d argue that point until the day I’m no longer on this earth…..you’re taking the word of Notah, a washed-up has-been and the only reason he even has a media job is because Tiger speaks to him…..on a side note, when Tiger was going through the scandal period, he didn’t even talk to Notah……I guarantee you the Tour has already sent a nasty little note to Bryson’s people….
baxter cepeda
I’m not putting anyone on a pedestal but I’ll say Great Athletes belong on a pedestal a heck of a lot more more than journalists, which is what you seem to be doing; blind loyalty for obvious reasons.
I don’t understand the logic. Why would ultra successful athletes with millions of followers rely on a dying industry anymore?
Notah is not washed up. He is a 4 time tour winner and a darn good analyst. He has that job in part because he knows how to talk to people especially tiger, which is my point precisely.
Many media members do not know how to talk to great athletes. They think it’s the 1900s. They want a polarizing article to sell but that increasingly comes with consequences now.
For a long time media could do no wrong and athletes felt they had no choice, now they know they do. Don’t take my word for it, you just have to look at the ever changing landscape.
You keep glossing over social media, increased coverage of the great things they do in competition and countless other ways top athletes promote themselves these days.
The PGA tour expects Bryson to do his media ‘obligations’ which from all accounts is what he is doing. But when he has a choice he is saying no. I do not Believe Bryson is getting punished by the tour in any way right now.
Tom Edrington
I did notice the New York newspapers, which are still very alive, did not cover the Northern Trust even though it was a neighborhood event…..yes Baxter, you place too much societal value on athletes…..and Notah only has a job because Tiger got it for him…..you and I can argue forever on this….I will allow you to keep expounding but govern yourself when “adoring” athletes, they’re flawed humans like everyone else…..over the years, I’ve gotten to know many on a personal level….as for Bryson, he is doing himself more harm than good, he doesn’t even take responsibility for his lousy shots…..ie: “I hit that perfect..” No, Bryson you did not look at the result….this guy is going down a dangerous path.
baxter cepeda
I actually wrote something in the article about who made the East lake and who didn’t but it didn’t send for some reason. I criticized Rahm and Bryson for being the two biggest crybaby excuse makers rambling nonsense every time something doesn’t go their way. So we agree there 100.
I know athletes are human but so are journalists.
Tom Edrington
There are plenty of athletes, fewer “journalists” I see too many talking heads on television that pass themselves off as journalists….one of my pals CANNOT STAND Steven A. Smith…..I don’t watch him or much else on BSPN until it covers the U.S. Open tennis, which my sister totally enjoys watching…..I miss the day when a lot of newspapers had investigative journalists……I remember back circa 1973-74 covering the Miami Jackson basketball team that went on to win the state title….I suspected their players were past the legal age, several were imported from the Bahamas, they looked like a D-1 basketball team and I wanted to make a trip to the Bahamas to investigate their backgrounds, Tribune wouldn’t spring for it but he afternoon Miami player did after I discussed with their high school editor — sure enough, two were in their 20s and one was a former Bahamian policeman…..they crushed our Tampa Jefferson team, the investigation turned up the facts after the state championship so they put an asterisk next to the school’s name. Funny, MacGregor Golf sponsored the GWAA awards back when I won, MacGregor disappeared and most writers have as well, I moved on after 10 years into the investment banking world then into commercial real estate but along the way, I also got call from entities that wanted me to write for them…..as Bob Dylan sang; The Times They Are A Changin’