On October 5th, “The Match” between Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau was announced.

Just a week earlier, the world saw the two hugging it out at Whistling Straits after the United States defeated Europe in the Ryder Cup. It was a great moment for the U.S. team who seemed to bond during the event, but it certainly wasn’t ideal for generating excitement for a Brooks v.s. Bryson match on Friday November 26th.

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In a conference call on Monday, Koepka and DeChambeau attempted to re-generate some of the disdain that golf fans had witnessed prior to the pair’s embrace in Wisconsin. Both Brooks and Bryson insist that the hug was “forced”:

“I wouldn’t put much on a forced hug,” Koepka said on the call Monday night.

DeChambeau agreed:

“It was definitely a little forced,” he said. “The team wanted us to do it, and to be honest I was surprised he did it. But I’m a guy that can put things behind me pretty quickly when you apologize and then we can move along. But it definitely felt forced, there wasn’t an apology or anything like that. Until I get an apology for what he’s said and what not, nothing will change.”

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Bryson went on to explain why his beef with Brooks is real from his perspective:

“This is all real on my end,” DeChambeau added. “It’s disgusting the way the guy has tried to knock me down. There’s no need for it in the game of golf, he’s just tried to knock me down at every angle, every avenue. For what reason, I don’t know. Maybe it’s because he’s jealous and wants to get a part of that PIP [Player Impact Program] money from the tour. That’s probably a part of it, because it was squashed until that was announced.”

Koepka agrees that the contempt is authentic between the two:

“I’ve said it like 10 different times,” Koepka said. “I’ve never really liked him. I think we played together maybe when he was an amateur at Augusta, that was the only time that I can think of that we ever played [together]. We didn’t get along there, didn’t get along since he got out [on tour], and then he said that stuff to Rick and I just thought it was crap. You don’t go ask my caddie to say something to me. Just come to me. Don’t be a little baby about it. I think he’s learned his lesson.”

Bryson’s first impression of Brooks wasn’t much better:

“My first impression of [Brooks] was always like, he was a little cocky,” DeChambeau said. “A little like, ‘I’m too cool for this game.’ He’s kind of held up to those standards so far.

“For some reason, he doesn’t like me. Whatever, it is what it is,” DeChambeau said. “I’m here to showcase and inspire kids to play a game in a unique way, and apparently he doesn’t like that.”

It is yet to be seen whether the recent comments by the two will generate some more interest in the event. Koepka has missed two cuts recently leading up to “The Match”, and DeChambeau was quick to point that out:

“He’s been lacking a bit recently,” DeChambeau said, referring to Koepka’s two recent missed cuts. “I’m happy for him that he signed with Srixon, wink wink.”

Koepka has already declared himself the winner of the “trash-talking” battle, and seeks bragging rights for a victory on the golf course as well:

“With all that’s gone on the last two years, eventually it was going to come to this,” Koepka said. “That way, somebody will have the bragging rights at the end of this and somebody won’t. I’ve already won the trash-talking point, I think that’s a given. So now it just comes down to playing golf, because obviously no one will [pair] us together. So we’ve got to do it on our own.”

The outcome will finally be determined on Friday November 26th in a 12 hole match in Las Vegas beginning at 4PM E.T.