Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina Gretzky's unexpected role in Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka feud rumours

Time of India

3 days ago

The 2018 Ryder Cup witnessed Europe's triumph and a rumour involving Paulina Gretzky, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka (Getty Images)
The 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris is remembered for many things — Europe's strong comeback, heated competition, and, behind the scenes, a story that swirled through corridors and tabloids.
One of the most persistent rumours that autumn involved
Paulina Gretzky
and an alleged falling-out between teammates Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka. Although never proven, the saga became part of the event's off-ice narrative and offered a glimpse into how gossip can shape perceptions during high-pressure team events.
How the rumours started and what outlets reported at the time
Reports from Golf Digest and L'Equipe carried whispers of a 'heated' squabble aboard the flight to Paris, with an unnamed insider telling L'Equipe the mood on the plane was 'horrible.'
That kind of detail — sourced, but anonymous — is exactly the sort of fuel that turns a private spat into a public story.
For fans and media, the idea of inter-player tension made the Ryder Cup drama feel larger than the scores. Ultimately, the American side fell to a cohesive European outfit, 17.5-10.5, a result commentators linked to on- and off-ice dynamics.
Brooks Koepka pushed back against the gossip when questioned after the tournament, dismissing the claims of a fight and insisting the relationship with
Johnson
was intact.
He said: "This Dustin thing, I don't get. There was no fight, no argument. He is one of my best friends.
"We talked on the phone on Monday and yesterday so tell me how we fought? I don't know. People like to make a story and run with it and it is not the first time a story has come out that is not true."
Why the episode mattered — team chemistry, media and perspective years later
From a throwback viewpoint, the episode highlights how fragile team chemistry can seem under media pressure. Johnson publicly sought to extinguish breakup chatter, writing: "Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family. Thank you for your love and support." Whether the rumours affected results is impossible to quantify, but they show how off-ice narratives can overshadow performance.
Also Read:
Wayne Gretzky's silence on Donald Trump's anti-Canada rhetoric still sparks debate years later
Looking back, the 2018 Ryder Cup reminder is simple: big events amplify small stories, and athletes often must manage both competition and the headlines that follow.
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