A casual observer might have missed the reference or scoffed at the error.

As Brooks Koepka walked off the ninth green during his second round at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational on Friday, a fan yelled, 'let's go Blake.'"

Koepka makes few flashy wardrobe choices, avoids quirky swing mechanics and does not have a particularly captivating backstory.

The world's top-ranked golfer is not jovial, bombastic or animated.

Stories abound about how, in the not-too-distant past, fans and even tournament officials mispronounced his name or got it wrong altogether.

But the stoic demeanor of the four-time major winner and all the things that make him somewhat anonymous to casual sports fans have turned him into a cult hero among a demographic of young fans.

It was a dynamic on full display Saturday at TPC Southwind as Koepka climbed the leaderboard with a gallery of hundreds following him around the course cheering wildly for the hulking 29-year-old who rarely shows emotion.

"He’s emerged as a ruthlessly honest alpha male," Sports Illustrated's Daniel Rapaport wrote earlier this year.

But where some see a brute, others see a bro. Or a "Blake."

'Blake Koepka'

The "Pardon My Take" podcast averages approximately 1 million listeners per episode, according to reports.

It appeals to young, male sports fans with unfiltered, casual dialogue between its hosts and elite athletes who appear as guests.

While Koepka's relationship with golf media has been tenuous during his rise to the top of the sport, recent appearances on "Pardon My Take" have showed Koepka's personality.

During a May interview on the show, Koepka admitted to liking reality TV and confessed that he often gets bored during the middle of his rounds. He said he prefers to watch basketball over golf on TV and added that he goes up to six weeks between rounds during the offseason.

“I’d rather be on the boat drinking, hanging out, doing what everybody else is doing," Koepka told "Pardon My Take."

Koepka also laughed as he owned to a comical quirk. Occasionally after a particularly good drive, Koepka will say "that's Gucci brah" to no one in particular.

“Somebody heard that," Koepka said on "Pardon My Take." "I guess it caught up in a boom mic.”

Koepka's relaxed vibe impressed the show's hosts so much that they entered him in their "Blake of the year" competition with NFL quarterback Blake Bortles and NBA star Blake Griffin even though his name is not Blake.

Bortles and Griffin are known for low-key demeanors and dry humor. Koepka fit the bill. To win the competition, he had to answer a phone call from the show hosts quicker than Bortles or Griffin with no advance warning of when the call would come.

He answered quickly but not quicker than Griffin.

"I'm pissed off, but I've got to deal with it," Koepka told The Commercial Appeal this week without cracking a smile.

Koepka said he will get someone to hold his phone for him during next year's competition.

Koepka in Memphis

Koepka played the FedEx St. Jude Classic every year from 2014 to 2018 and has a pair of top-five finishes at TPC Southwind.

"I love this place," he said. "This place has always been good to me."

After his round Friday, Koepka dutifully signed autographs for dozens of young fans in the tournament's "kid's zone."

A few minutes earlier he assessed his chances to win the event with a response that put the rest of the field on notice. At the time, he was 5-under par and four shots off the lead.

"You don't need to play four great days, you just need to play four solid days, and to be right there with nine holes to go is kind of the key," Koepka said. "Obviously I need to press a little bit harder (Saturday) and see where we're at and get it going."

Koepka pressed indeed. He shot a 6-under 64 and is one shot behind leader Rory McIlroy at 11-under for the tournament. Koepka is known for his poise and precision in majors but has only two career PGA Tour victories in non-major events.

But this week, there is some extra motivation.

If Koepka wins, Michelob Ultra will give out vouchers for free beer to those who have opted in to the promotion.

It would be the ultimate accomplishment for a Blake.

"That's special," Koepka said. "I mean, anytime you can win a bunch of people free beer, it's always cool. Yeah, I mean, I'm trying. So hopefully it comes that way on Sunday."

As a group of fans yelled following Koepka's tee shot on the first hole Saturday, "that's Gucci brah."

Reach Grizzlies beat writer David Cobb at david.cobb@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @DavidWCobb.