Brooks Koepka was the greatest golfer of his time. He was the most fearsome golfer on the largest stage. He was built for major wins. The sports version is The Intimidator.
He could not be stopped by anything.
Koepka looked incredibly fragile during filming last year’s Netflix docuseries, “Full Swing.” An insecure golfer. Here’s a peek at his decision to join LIV Golf.
Koepka is a Palm Beach County native who has made two starts in the year. He says that he is not showing any signs of coming out of a long slump that has left him in a mental space he claims he has never been before he started playing the game.
Photos: Brooks Koepka, Jena Sims throughout the years.
LIV rosters (from Palm Beach Post: Shakeup Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson teams highlight the first release of LIV golf rosters
Koepka stated that he had been having questions for the past year after missing the cut at The Masters. “Am I going be the same golfer?” Are I going to ever be the same golfer? I don’t even know where I am.
“I will be truthful with you, I cannot compete with these guys week in and week out.”
It didn’t get much better. Koepka was unable to play the final three majors in 2022. He finished 55th at the PGA Championship, U.S. Open, and missed the cut at Open Championship.
Koepka joined LIV, a circuit funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. He won one time and was not in the top 10 for four stroke-play events. His problems continued into this year. He was 46th in the Asian Tour’s February starts, but he missed the cut.
Koepka is back for LIV’s second series, which begins Friday in Mayakoba (Mexico).
Koepka (32), has suffered from injuries after winning four majors over a two-year period, which ended with the 2019 PGA Championship. Before sustaining injuries to his hip, knees, ankle, wrist and neck, he spent 47 weeks at top of world golf rankings. There were very few spare parts.
After finishing third at Phoenix Open last year, he admitted that he had lost some confidence and was now struggling to get back on his feet. It’s hard to get your confidence back if you lose it quickly.
Brooks Koepka & Ian Poulter have a good time at a press conference prior to the LIV Golf series in Trump National Doral. John David Mercer – USA TODAY Sports
Koepka then was filmed at Medalist Golf Club, Hobe Sound, working on his putting.
He said, “When I was playing at my best, even if I’m not a big statistic guy, I know that I was the best within 8 feet during that entire stretch.” “And now, I’m probably my worst. Struggling right now.
Golf is so insane because you never lose it. It’s almost as if you can’t get it. This is how I feel right now on the greens.
Koepka felt the lowest point in the series after the Masters. He admitted feeling “very embarrassed” after consecutive 75s.
He said, “I have never felt this way about leaving a golf course.” “I have never felt embarrassed over the 32 years I’ve been playing golf. I don’t understand why. I don’t understand why.”
My whole career is going straight up, then suddenly I’m kinda on, I don’t want to tell the other side, but it’s like, OK. Well, we’re going down now. This is the most difficult time I have ever had to struggle in my entire life. This is the worst thing I’ve ever had to deal with.
It was worse than that before he saw a slight rebound against LIV fields, which lack the talent and depth he would have faced on the PGA Tour.
The question now is whether Koepka will regret running away from the PGA Tour and achieving the same level of play as 2017-19. Koepka reportedly received $100 million from LIV in order to switch. Perhaps he knew that the pressure and competition would not be as high at the PGA Tour. One report suggests that Koepka might be feeling “buyers regret” and trying to get back on the Tour if his form improves.
Greg Norman Jr., Greg Norman’s son and CEO of LIV, called the report “Bs”.
No. Bs.
Greg Norman Jr. (@GregJrNorman February 16, 2023
Koepka appears not to be in the right place at this moment to consider returning to the Tour.
He said it about a year ago, “Being at low point you can either quit, you just lay there or you just have to figure it out.” “I believe that’s where you should be…
“I don’t know.”
