OWINGS MILLS Md. Bryson DeChambeau was steaming.
He'd just missed a birdie, ending one of the most memorable playoffs on the PGA Tour in recent years. Everyone. As DeChambeau entered the tunnel beneath the grandstands at the 18th hole, the roars of Patrick Cantlay, Sunday’s winner of the BMW Championship, rang out. DeChambeau gave his hat to an excited adolescent fan who stood at the rope line. Then he began a furious, but quiet, walk up the hill toward the Caves Valley clubhouse.
I felt like we had arrived at the end of the endless circus that is DeChambeau, half-way up the hill. DeChambeau walked past a patron, who waited to see if he was still there. DeChambeau spun around and started walking towards him briefly.
"You know what?" "Get the f--- out!" DeChambeau shouted. His eyes were filled with rage.
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It could have turned out to be very ugly quickly, and I mean that seriously. It wasn't "Malice At the Palace" bad, but it was enough to make me wonder. When it comes to security at a tournament of golf, a rope line is nothing more than a polite suggestion. DeChambeau had been listening to and ignoring this kind of taunt for the past week. Everyone has a breaking point.
DeChambeau stopped, and angrily motioned for a police officer. He then continued his march uphill. The whole exchange lasted less than 10 seconds. ESPN asked the PGA Tour for comment on the incident. We've been working towards something similar all summer. I don't know the endgame.
Brooks Koepka and DeChambeau had a playful beginning, which was a harmless distraction at a time when we needed it. Shouldn't golf be more casual? In other sports, athletes trade barbs all of the time. Why shouldn't this be any different? This is how I saw it. Is it a sign that DeChambeau could not ignore Koepka's fans? He shouldn't have shut them up with the clubs.
Even though DeChambeau won more money and played in more tournaments this season, it's clear who won. To keep the feud alive, Koepka doesn't even need to play. (Koepka said he had agreed to suspend the feud, at least temporarily, at Steve Stricker's request. There are still a lot of trolls out there eager to prick DeChambeau. Koepka can't stop them, even though he would like to. The trolls claim they aren’t breaking any laws and that they are just shouting "Brooksie!" They want to support their favorite player, even though it is a pain in DeChambeau.
Can you really kick someone off a professional sporting event because they shouted at another player? Is it bullying when heckling crosses the line? Can you bully an athlete of this stature? It's an absurd ethical dilemma.
If you are not a golf enthusiast, you might find this all perplexing. But, golf will have to provide an answer because it is not going away. The NBC broadcast team repeated the phrase "Brooksie!" The weekend was relatively uneventful, and fans were generally supportive of DeChambeau. Anyone who has walked at Caves Valley with DeChambeau can tell you that it was -- to be generous -- grossly misleading. It was something I heard many times as I walked with Cantlay and DeChambeau during the playoff's six-hole hole. DeChambeau was surrounded by many fans, but there were also plenty of people who wanted him to get the ball in the water. The crowd was singing "Patty!" Patty! Patty!
I won't tell anyone to support DeChambeau, or change their minds. His reputation has been tarnished by a lot of criticism. However, I think we are losing the plot a little. We forget how compelling he is as an amateur golfer, even though he cannot resist saying stupid things. Although he isn't as thoughtful as Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm behind the microphone, he's not as talented as many athletes. DeChambeau just posted the lowest score ever recorded by a player who hasn't won a PGA Tour tournament. This is a great feat for a city that hasn’t hosted a PGA Tour event for 60 years. He seems to be on the brink of meltdown from the mocking he receives. Is it okay to mock DeChambeau just because he seems less likeable in an age where athletes are encouraged to talk about their mental well-being?
2021 Tour Championship Michael Collins sets you up for the final stop of America's Caddie's FedEx Cup playoffs as well as the Tour Championship. Stream live on ESPN+
DeChambeau is not meant to be the heel, even though some aspects of golf are reminiscent of professional wrestling. The PGA Tour has awarded $40 million in its Player Impact Program, which is partially based on fan engagement. He doesn't have it in his DNA. I have heard from people who know him well that he desires to be loved. To be loved. He doesn't understand why he isn't accepted despite his success.
When DeChambeau was just about to become a professional golfer, five years ago I sent DeChambeau an email asking if he would be open to an interview about his desire for change in an often-stagnant industry like golf. Even as a college student, his outspoken desire to change the way we see equipment, science, and putting was a wonderful story.
He replied almost in the right way. As I recall, his response was polite but also earnest. DeChambeau offered me a chance to visit California with him and his family. He was open to sharing his thoughts and ideas about the future of the sport. Unfortunately, we couldn't coordinate our schedules and never got it to work. Recently, however, I have been thinking about DeChambeau back then. He was still a little kid, but so hungry and eager for others to share his passion.
While a lot of his earnestness is still there, some of it has been lost and his resentments have grown. It would be great if everyone, DeChambeau included, could press a reset button. He is a fascinating player. Even athletes who are annoying us should be treated with a little compassion. It would be nice to show some empathy, regardless of whether he is worthy.
