The much-hyped “truce” between Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka didn’t last long. Ahead of the LIV Team Championship semifinals in Michigan, the rivalry flared back up when DeChambeau passed on facing Koepka directly.

Instead of giving fans the heavyweight showdown they wanted, DeChambeau stuck to strategy with his Crushers GC lineup against Koepka’s Smash GC. Explaining his choice in the post-match press conference, he said, “Talor’s playing some really good golf, and I felt like Baan would be a great fit for Brooks today. Sure, I could’ve gone up against him. Brooks is a great fighter, and I would’ve loved that matchup. But from a team perspective, Talor was the tougher out.”

DeChambeau isn’t wrong. Talor Gooch has had a resurgence in the second half of this season. After missing out on majors and struggling to find a rhythm early on, he now sits at number 6 on the standings, while Koepka lags at No. 31. Now although, LIV fans would have loved to see the rival duo locking horns with each other, DeChambeau’s strategic selection was done by keeping in mind the result of the match — which is to win. And that is exactly what happened, Crushers GC defeated Smash GC in a nail-biting 2-1 battle and have now advanced to the finals. Choosing Gooch turned out to be a good decision, as DeChambeau defeated him in his singles match.

Their individual match was tight, as both of them were locked in step all afternoon. By the time they reached the 18th tee, the match was all square. With everything riding on the final hole, DeChambeau delivered under pressure by draining an 8-foot birdie putt to seal the victory.

Giving a glimpse of his battle with Talor Gooch, DeChambeau was all praises, “He shot 6-under today. I shot 7 and barely scraped by on the last to clip him. He’s a grinder and a fighter, and I know he’s a battler. Hat’s off to Gooch for his play. It’s tough to play against him. He’s a great wedger, a great putter. I was scared all day for sure.”

Looking at his explanation, it makes sense why DeChambeau chose this lineup. He sits at No. 3 in the individual standings, while sending out Anirban Lahiri, who’s ranked 25th against his long-time rival/frenemy, Brooks Koepka, added balance to the matchups. Although his response comes a day after Koepka, he fired at him for his lineup selection. He questioned his decision before adding that DeChambeau “beats his own drum” and is a “strange cat.” The comments reignited their long-standing rivalry, as Koepka was clearly expecting a direct showdown and felt snubbed when it didn’t happen.

And it looks like he tried to take that out on his singles match with Lahiri. Interestingly, Koepka tried to put that match on the clock. When asked about it, he insisted that it was done to let him dictate the pace and stay in rhythm. “I could get more holes in at my pace than I could if we got on the clock early. I think it took us five holes, it wasn’t long, but I felt like we could play the rest of the holes at my pace, and I felt like I did,” he replied.

When this subject came up later, DeChambeau took it lightheartedly, brushing it off as part of the fun. “We’re trying to have a good time. We’re trying to win, right? We want to beat them, and I felt like that gave us the best opportunity.”

Additionally, the rivalry between them was also known to be resolved, as the December 2024 Crypto.com Showdown painted a different picture entirely. Brooks and Bryson played as teammates against Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. They worked together, giving the impression of good friends.

Regardless, for all the intensity during play, Bryson DeChambeau’s easygoing response undercut any lingering tension, at least from his side, showing he was more focused on winning with his team than getting dragged into another pace-of-play spat. And now, after securing a place in the final, this attitude is exactly what his team would need.

The Sunday showdown – Top 3 teams eye final glory

The Championship will reach its dramatic conclusion on Sunday, with a shift from match play to stroke play. What this means is that a poor performance from one will come at the expense of the entire team. Legion XIII is entering as the favorite, stacked with Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, and rising names like Caleb Surratt and Tom McKibbin. Rahm’s recent 11-under 60 at Indianapolis proves just how dangerous he can be when momentum swings his way.

On the other side, Crushers FC have the pedigree, having won the Team Championship in 2023. Bryson DeChambeau already showed nerves of steel with his semifinal birdie on 18, and his teammates Anirban Lahiri, Paul Casey, and Charles Howell III are proven stroke-play performers.

Still, the wildcard remains Stinger GC. They’ve been punching above their weight all postseason, showing grit in the match-play rounds that caught higher-seeded teams like those of Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann off guard. Louis Oosthuizen‘s flat stick has been hot, and if he rolls under pressure, Stingers could easily disrupt the script. One misstep from any player could swing the trophy.