The much-anticipated grudge match between ‘Brooks vs. Bryson’ or Brooks Koepka vs. Bryson DeChambeau is finally here this Friday over twelve holes at the Wynn Golf Course, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Very often the bad feeling between the two principals gets hyped in a contest of this magnitude but there’s no need for hype between these two. Let’s see the betting odds.
Friday, November 26, 2021, at Wynn Golf Club
Brooks Koepka would never admit to it but in my opinion, the changes Bryson DeChambeau made to his appearance and game during the Covid-19 hiatus have affected him in some way leaving him feeling a little threatened that someone had found that little something extra that had the potential to make a difference at the highest level.
We heard Rory McIlroy in March, admitting that chasing the extra speed in his swing that Bryson found had knocked his equilibrium out of whack. Now when one of the best in the world admits that Bryson’s changes made him consider them, you can be dam sure that they made an impact on the Northern Irishman. He wasn’t the only one, and we’ve seen similar behavior from Tony Finau and Dustin Johnson to chase extra length so why wouldn’t Brooks?
Yes. Brooks is all about the psychology of the sport, wanting to insinuate during his purple patch of form that he only practiced around major championships’, a period that saw him accumulate four major wins in a two-year cycle. There was no doubt he was leaning on his rivals psychologically while trying to create an air of invincibility similar to the one that surrounded his good friend Tiger Woods. Sadly, for Brooks, Tiger didn’t need to play the mind games as his dominance happened more organically and over a longer time frame.
These resentments that have built-in Brooks for Bryson have spilled over into the media and press conferences where his need to belittle or berate his opponent has border-lined on obsession. Maybe seeing the fact, that he rattled Bryson’s cage made him continue like that kid at school that’s ‘always got to have the last word”. Take this into consideration for your best bets.
What started as passive belittling of an opponent has only worked to strengthen the Bryson factor with the crowds after his long hitting and changes had already created a cult following. Whether Bryson is the victim or has just played the victim only time will tell but there’s no doubt he’s gaining support in the ‘popularity stakes’’.
To reinforce my belief that Bryson was becoming more popular nowadays with golf fans, I put up a Twitter poll as seen below.
Bryson has indeed garnered a new level of empathy from the golfing viewer the last couple of seasons given how his idiosyncratic style drove many mad in the past, but the poll tells you that Brooks Koepka is still the most popular of the two. I worry that the swing changes he’s made will potentially shorten his career through injury but there’s no doubt in the short term his major results have been better than Brooks highlighted by his win in the 2020 US Open.
Golf Pick: Brooks Koepka +105 with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Golf Pick: Bryson DeChambeau -110 with Intertops (visit our Intertops Review)
For many years, the offseason as it’s called has become the silly season for PGA Tour pros earning ridiculous amounts for engagements or exhibitions like this one or indeed, just taking a nice break with the family and loved ones. I can’t help but think that Bryson Dechambeau will still be working hard at his game while Brooks clubs have been in the airing cupboard gathering dust and only coming out if someone wants to fill up his wheelbarrow with dollars which funnily enough, Srixon did on Monday.
We know Bryson is entered in next week’s Hero World Challenge while Brooks isn’t, so it looks like a great opportunity for Bryson to get some ‘public payback’ on an underprepared rival. For sure, Brooks will lay the psychology on thick in the coming days but if his game’s not there he’s likely to get his nose bloodied by his rival while may be feeling a little intimidated by his game and underwhelmed by the public love his actions have brought Bryson.
Either way, it’s Bryson DeChambeau for me in this twelve-hole The Match. Most firms make Bryson Dechambeau the slight favorite but Intertops make the match a pick them so we will take the -110 about our man Bryson there.
Golf Pick: Bryson DeChambeau to win the match -110 with Intertops
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.