“I hate golf,” DeChambeau reportedly mumbled after hooking a tee shot into the bunker Friday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic.

If he was looking for a pick-me-up before continuing on with the par-3 fifth hole at Detroit Golf Club, caddie Tom Tucker wasn’t around to provide it.

It was a snapshot of a second straight day of misery for DeChambeau, who missed the two-round cut after totaling a 1-under par. Despite being one of sponsor Rocket Mortgage’s paid ambassadors, the highest-ranked player in the field and the tournament’s defending champion, he declined to speak to reporters after both rounds.

It’s safe to say DeChambeau is missing Tucker — who has been on his bag for all eight of DeChambeau’s career PGA Tour wins — after the two split earlier this week with the claim of a mutual decision. Even if the notorious long-hitter is avoiding talking about it.

DeChambeau was “blindsided” by Tucker’s departure earlier this week, according to Yahoo Sports. Tucker told Golfweek that he “wouldn’t be surprised to see [DeChambeau] win Rocket Mortgage. He is hitting it great.”

Well, that didn’t happen. Far from it. To add insult to injury, DeChambeau’s bitter rival Brooks Koepka not-so-coincidentally tweeted this week about how his caddie Ricky Elliott is his “best friend and greatest caddie to do it.”

Without Tucker in his corner, DeChambeau curiously decided Friday to wait for the green to clear on the 398-yard third hole. He was still chatting with fans throughout his round.

“I’ve never seen that happen on the PGA Tour,” said Kramer Hickok, who was part of DeChambeau’s group, “where you’re waiting for par-4 greens to clear of that length.”

DeChambeau birdied the fourth hole before bogeying the fifth and sixth — just as he had the first — and letting his frustrations spill over.

This story originally appeared on: NyPost - Author:Ryan Dunleavy