Back in 2019, Brooks Koepka’s comments about Bryson DeChambeau were sharp enough to prompt a response from Jack Nicklaus.
Koepka, who recently left LIV Golf, and DeChambeau have never had much time for each other. That has not changed over the years.
By August 2025, Koepka was still making his feelings clear, calling DeChambeau a “strange cat” and showing he had not moved past whatever had started between them.
Jack Nicklaus faced plenty of rivalries during his career, but those were usually about what happened on the course.
This feud seems different, though. It does not feel like the usual competitive tension. These two genuinely seem to just not get along.
A few months back, DeChambeau threw a jab at Koepka by suggesting he dodged him in the LIV Golf Team Championship because Talor Gooch was considered the tougher opponent.
But it was really back in 2019 when Koepka took things up a notch with his public criticism of DeChambeau.
Brooks Koepka’s harsh words for Bryson DeChambeau explained
DeChambeau’s slow pace has long been a talking point, largely due to his deliberate, calculated style.
Back in 2019, Koepka made it clear he was not impressed, calling out DeChambeau’s approach during a public appearance.
He was questioned directly about his honest opinion of DeChambeau’s slow play, a topic concerning the five-time major champion.
“I just don’t understand how it takes a minute and 20 seconds, a minute and 15 to hit a golf ball; it’s not that hard,” Koepka began by saying.
“It’s always between two clubs; there’s a miss short, there’s a miss long. It really drives me nuts especially when it’s a long hitter because you know you’ve got two other guys or at least one guy that’s hitting before you so you can do all your calculations; you should have your numbers.
“Obviously if you’re the first guy you might take ten extra seconds, but it doesn’t take that long to hit the ball, especially if it’s not blowing 30. If it’s blowing 30 I understand taking a minute and taking some extra time with some gusts, you know changing just slightly, I get that but if it’s a calm day there’s no excuse.
“Guys are already so slow it’s kind of embarrassing. I just don’t get why you enforce some things and don’t enforce others.”
The truth is: players across all levels of the game often are not ready when their turn comes around. They wait until then to start picking clubs and working out yardages.
This habit seems to trickle down from professionals on tours like the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, who routinely take their time both before addressing the ball and once they are over it.
Jack Nicklaus’ advice for Bryson DeChambeau after Brooks Koepka criticism
Nicklaus is always someone worth hearing from when controversies pop up in the professional game.
His views, usually a mix of authority and common sense, have a way of cutting through the noise.
Back in 2019, speaking to The Detroit Free Press, Nicklaus was asked what he thought about Koepka’s comments on DeChambeau’s slow play.
“I was a slow player myself when I was younger, and learned how to combat that.
“You can learn how to play golf without being slow; it’s not that hard to do.
“Guys (on Tour) can jump on another guy and I don’t necessarily think that’s fair. I think you really help a guy to learn how to play a little bit faster. When I was a slow player my first year on Tour, the guys came to me and worked with me to learn how to move along faster.
“It’s all about being ready to play when it’s your turn. And if you’re ready to play when it’s your turn then you won’t be slow.”
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