Bryson DeChambeau told fans at the US PGA "I don't care" after he was booed onto the tee at Oak Hill on Saturday.
Paired with another LIV Golf rebel in Brooks Koepka, the American duo were very much cited as pantomime villains by the crowd, with the announcement of their names jeered loudly by the crowds. On commentary for CBS, a surprised Jim Nantz said: “This is interesting. We have two guys who play on a different tour. Not a warm welcome. I have not heard that in all the events back to last summer.”
But the man dubbed the 'Mad Scientist' seemed unaffected as he fired a third-round 70 to lie three-under par, just three shots off the lead. And it's Koepka who he will be chasing on Sunday, after the four-time major winner fires a second consecutive 66 to move to six-under. Canadian Corey Connors and Norwegian player Viktor Hovland a just a shot further back.
Asked afterwards if the hostile reception and provided him with additional motivation, DeChambeau, 29, was defiant: “No, I don’t care," he said. “I mean, it’s not a big deal. I mean, they are going to do that no matter what.
“It’s New York, and I expect it here, I appreciate the fans, them doing that to me. It’s like, okay, cool, no problem. I’ve got no problem, either way. If we got applause, that’s fantastic and if not, you know what, whatever. It is what it is. It still was fun today.”
Koepka is another star central to the sport's civil war, but his own move to LIV has arguable helped reignite his form amid two wins on the Saudi-backed tour. And he put up a strong showing at the US Masters in April, again leading after three rounds only to be chased down by Jon Rahm.
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And like the divisive DeChambeau, the 33-year-old was unperturbed by the boos: “I love New York,” he said. “It’s always fun. Like I said, you do something really well, they are going to let you know, and if you do something pretty poor, they are going to let you know, and I just love that.
“I love when the fans are on you, cheering for you, or you know, giving you c**p if you screw up. That’s the beauty of it. You want that, or at least I want that atmosphere.”
Both players now have a shot at making history, with no player having won a major championship after signing with LIV Golf. To add to the theatre Rory McIlroy, who has positioned himself as the poster boy for the PGA Tour in their battle to stave off the threat of Greg Norman's venture, remains in the mix at one under par.
