The DP World Tour stop in France is about to feature a pairing that few would have predicted, or in some cases, not even wanted. Brooks Koepka, currently playing  at the FedEx Open de France, is set to tee it up alongside Michael Kim. Yes, the same Michael Kim who has, in the recent past, come to be known as LIV’s most outspoken critic. In other words, this is going to be fun for the fans.

Kim, in the last few years, has been abashedly anti-LIV. His “hatred”, if one may, for the breakaway league is a long list. Just earlier this year, he mocked Joaquin Niemann‘s rise after the Chilean dominated in LIV Virginia. Kim sarcastically posted that “2000 Tiger Woods would have no chance against LIV Golf Niemann.” This came at a time when there had already been claims of Niemann being the world’s best player, which was assumed to be an indirect jab at Scottie Scheffler. Any which way, Kim from the Tour’s side was not buying Niemann’s hype.

However, Kim’s criticism came back to bite him in the toes at the John Deere Classic, where, once he missed the cut, LIV’s senior writer Matt Vincenzi asked if Joaquin Niemann would have had a chance against Kim at TPC Deere Run. Quickly seizing the opportunity, the latter replied, “Definitely. Anyone that’s only 30 spots below me in OWGR would have a chance to beat me today.”  Kim, at the time, was ranked 55th, and Niemann at 86th.

That wasn’t an isolated moment, though. Michael Kim has, for a long time, kept a steady stream of commentary on social media. He has been constant in questioning LIV’s merit as well as its broader impact on golf. One can say he’s the Tour’s Phil Mickelson, as Lefty’s sarcasm on the Internet has never been hidden. Coming back to Kim, during the PGA Championship, he again took a shot at Niemann, refusing to consider him the world’s best. Later, when Niemann finished 8th at Oak Hill, it just added more fuel to the debate. Not only Niemann, but Kim has also not spared Byrson DeChambeau. He took a dig at the Mad Scientist at the same event, saying he is “not used to playing Thursdays.” As LIV has only three rounds (54 holes), most of their matches generally start on Friday, as compared to the Tour’s traditional way of starting on Thursday.

His criticism in reality extends beyond any one individual LIV player. Kim has been particularly vocal about his opposition to any potential merger or deal between the PGA Tour and LIV, arguing that there should be consequences for players who left to join the Saudi-backed league. This [the merger] realistically only affects the top 30ish golfers on the pgatour and they’ll prob make more money after this deal. You can make the argument that if the players come back, it’ll be better for the PGA Tour, and bring more interest, but I find that hard to believe,” he wrote on X once.”

Kim’s criticism isn’t limited to LIV either. He has also unhesitatingly taken shots at the PGA Tour leadership, commenting how they’ve become complacent now that the initial threat of LIV has stabilized. “It feels as though the leadership at the PGA Tour is somewhat content with where the tour is at,” he said last year.

Koepka, meanwhile, has had his own complicated relationship with LIV. While he remains one of its top stars, he has privately admitted frustrations with the league’s slow commercial progress, even suggesting they’re behind where they should be. Fred Couples once added to the intrigue when he claimed that Koepka had expressed an interest in a PGA Tour return. Although Koepka pushed back on the statement, he still left the door open about his potential return.

So all in all, this makes the Open de France pairing fascinating. While both players are likely to maintain professionalism on the course, the undercurrent of their philosophical differences will be impossible to ignore. And, if by chance, Kim passes any sly comments on Koepka, it won’t be the first time for him to face such jabs.

Brooks Koepka can’t get a rest from jabs

Brooks Koepka should be used to now to the constant comments directed at his allegiance to LIV. Back in 2022, when Brooks Koepka joined LIV Golf, after claiming he would not, Rory McIlroy did not mince his words. He called the move “duplicitous,” accusing Koepka of saying one thing publicly and then doing another behind the doors. “I don’t know if that’s for legal reasons or if they can’t — I have no idea — but it’s pretty duplicitous on their part to say one thing and then do another thing.”

Fast forward to 2025, and Koepka still struggles with his decisions. At the PGA Championship in Quail Hollow, he had a go with hecklers, at a time when he struggled to affirm his footing in the tournament. During his second round, one person yelled at Koepka from behind the ropes, “Guaranteed money does that, Brooks,” after the latter’s poor performance. It is not known how much LIV pays marquee players to join its side. In Koepka’s case, it was reported to be more than $100 million!

Hence, all this makes the entire showdown between Michael Kim and Brooks Koepka more interesting to watch.