Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka booed at US PGA

Ever the polarising figure, Bryson DeChambeau was welcomed to the first tee with a chorus of boos at Oak Hill.

LIV Golf’s DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka are leading the chasing pack at the PGA Championship and a win for either burly American would also represent a PR victory for the Saudi-funded circuit in which they now reside.

But the duo have both damaged their reputations amongst golf fans for ditching the American establishment for the Saudi millions, or at least in the eyes of those clustered round the first tee on this monstrous course in upstate New York.

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DeChambeau and Koepka received a lukewarm reception at very best as a box-office third round pairing was announced at Oak Hill.

There was some polite applause for the two major champions, but that was drowned out by loud boos, particularly when the name of the outspoken and divisive DeChambeau was hollered.

This represents a distinct fall from grace for DeChambeau in terms of public opinion, a far-cry from the hysteria of three years ago when fans were bellowing for more brutality off the tee.

Pretty aggressive boobirds for Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka on the first tee at the PGA Championship.

"Not a warm welcome," says Jim Nantz. "I've never heard that, for that matter, at any point back to last summer." pic.twitter.com/GOnmAzaVfK

— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) May 20, 2023

DeChambeau will care little, however, if leaves Rochester with the Wanamaker trophy on Sunday evening.

He is firmly in the mix at Oak Hill and looks up for the task on a course that has been widely compared to Winged Foot, the scene of his bomb-and-gouge US Open triumph in 2020.

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Koepka, meanwhile, is also looking primed to contend after surprising many with his brutally honest admission that he “choked away” his first Green Jacket at The Masters last month.

It is difficult to envisage the four-time major winner succumbing to the pressure this time round if the tournament stays within his grasp by the time we reach the back-nine on Sunday.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.