MIAMI – For those who thought there was a chance that Brooks Koepka, Matthew Wolff could salvage their relationship, Koepka’s comments made Wednesday before LIV Golf’s season-ending Team Championship slammed the door shut.
Forever.
Koepka is not apologetic about his feelings towards Wolff who lives in Jupiter, just like Koepka. He dug in once again on Wednesday. Wolff is now paired up with Brooks’ younger brother Chase in the foursomes tournament on Friday.
Brooks stated, “We don’t interact much.”
He elaborated when pressed.
“I’ve tried. I spent the first part of the year trying both to help and to find out the answer. I don’t think that it is worth the effort. I’ve tried. I’ve tried. “Sometimes you can’t help those who don’t want to help.”
Smash, which Koepka leads, also includes Wolff, Jason Kokrak, and his brother.
Koepka, in July, questioned Wolff’s attitude and work ethic, stating that he had a lot talent, but it was “wasted.” This came after Wolff resigned from the LIV tournament outside Washington, D.C.
Koepka was asked last week about his team during the event LIV in Jeddah where he won. He replied, “There’s only three people on our team” and spoke about how he loves being with Chase and Kokrak.
Brooks Koepka will likely be searching for two new teammates for the season 2024. Chase Koepka, who was 48th on the individual standings list, will be relegated. The only way he can return to LIV will be through a full field promotion event in December.
Brooks finished third in the individual final standings. Kokrak was 23rd, and Wolff 27th.
Golfweek approached Wolff on Wednesday after Koepka made his comments. Wolff did not stop shaking his head, and he continued to answer the question. In a recent interview, Wolff claimed that the Koepka controversy is behind him. This was before the Jeddah event and the Doral event (and also the Ryder Cup). He also said that he thought Koepka was deserving of his place on the Ryder Cup Team.
Matthew Wolff opens up about mental health
Wolff, 24 has been very open about his struggles with mental health. He said that at times it was hard to get out of bed, and he had a fear of going to tournaments. He did not want “to screw up in front everyone.”
It was the beginning of 2021.
Wolff, who spoke to The Post in October last year, said that golf is “just really difficult”. Growing up, golf was easy for me. The competition was also easier. It’s difficult to perform well in a professional environment, especially when you know that you won’t be able to do so every time.
“It was something I struggled a bit with coming from college golf and junior golf, where you won pretty much everything you entered. And transitioning to (professional golf).” Even if you are a decent player, you may get beaten by these guys. “It’s more like a rollercoaster, and I will learn to handle it.”
Despite Brooks’ harsh and insensitive comments, Wolff believes that LIV’s format of teams has helped him to relieve some of the pressure he experienced when playing on the PGA Tour alone.
Brooks Koepka, Smash GC, speaks to the press after the first round at LIV Golf Jeddah, held on Friday, October 13th, 2023 at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/LIV golf)
Wolff stated that “pro golf is a lonely sport.” “You don’t have a lot of people around you, or at least that’s how I felt before. When I switched to LIV I felt that there were more people watching out for me.
It’s been pretty nice as well.” It was also nice.”
Koepka’s remarks are even colder because of this. Wolff may be to blame for the deterioration of this relationship, but Koepka should not have made such a public comment about a colleague who had been through personal difficulties.
Brooks Koepka will face Phil Mickelson on Friday in the quarterfinals
Koepka has already had a great season on all platforms, regardless of how Smash does in the team championship. Koepka will face HyFlyers led by Phil Mickelson in the quarterfinals this Friday, with Koepka going head to head against Mickelson in match play.
Koepka won his fifth major of his career at the PGA Championship. He was also the only LIV player to compete in the Ryder Cup. The victory in Jeddah is his second LIV Tour win this season. He also has three other top five finishes.
Koepka has just become a father for the first. He won $17.5m in prize money, including a bonus of $4m for finishing third in the individual standings. The PGA Tour earnings of Koepka for the four majors were just over $5 million.
In the years before 2019, he made just over $9.5 million.
After winning Jeddah, he said: “I feel like my old self.”
