Bryson DeChambeau breaks silence on Koepka, hecklers and the Ryder Cup

“I
can take heat,” said the 28-year-old. “I’ve taken my whole entire life.
It’s because I’m a little different and I understand that. I appreciate
that, too. No matter what, if you’re a little different – whether it’s
Elon Musk, whether it’s Jeff Bezos, whoever it is – there’s always going
to be heat and I recognise that and I respect that. 

“I would say, on my own end, golf was always a game where integrity and honesty was
always super-important and I personally think, as time has gone on,
there’s a bigger issue at hand. It’s not just me. What’s going to happen
with live betting down the road? How can we make sure that every player
has a fair chance to play their bets and have an equal playing field? 

• McIlroy leaps to defence of DeChambeau

“So
it’s not about me. Everybody thinks it’s about me right now. I
understand that things are going to happen. It’s really about the future
of the game and where we want to take this game because I believe in
this game so much and I care so much about this game that I don’t want
to lose track or lose sight of what this game actually means to the
world.” 

Asked if the noise around him has become a distraction, he added: “It’s
another variable that I have to take account for but, guess what, I’m
going to keep trying my best to treat everybody the way they want to be
treated and absolutely give my heart out there on the playing field.” 

Whilst they have not played together since their quarrel intensified some months ago, DeChambeau
and Koepka will be teammates at the Ryder Cup later this month, raising
the question of whether or not they would be able to play with one
another should the need arise. 

According to Bryson, he’d have no problem doing that. 

“I
am 100% willing to do that. There’s no issue in regards to that. I
think highly of him. He’s done a lot for the sport. I think he’s a very
interesting character that can be an amazing asset to the team. For me, I
know I can be an amazing asset to the team and if we all can focus on
being the best we possibly can be, we’ll win. We’ll win.

• OPINION: “Tour should fix Bryson first, not fans”

• Bob Mac insists Ryder Cup dream is still alive

“Everybody
thinks I have an issue with him. No. I don’t. I really don’t. At the
end of the day, the people saying things in the crowds are going to say
what they’re going to say because they have the right to do so. It’s
been going on for months now and everybody has their own limits.
Everybody has their own tipping points and what not. I think I’ve done a
pretty good job of realising
that, you know what, I’m going to let that fuel me in a positive way.
That’s the way I look at it. That’s the way I want to migrate it and
move it into some energy that’s really positive.  

“I
hope people understand that all these things that have occurred, I’ve
never tried to have happen on purpose. This is all about me trying to
show people there’s a different way to play the game and you can enjoy
reinventing yourself.” 

Watch the video in full here: