Brooks Koepka has returned to his former form of golf.
Koepka is the only golfer who has won two times since moving to the LIV Golf League. He even led the Masters 54-holes before his final-round score of 75. (Insert jokes about 72-hole tournaments here).
Koepka is one shot behind the leader heading into Sunday’s final round.
It’s the drop he made during the first round of the Singapore Grand Prix that is making the rounds. Even LIV announcers were confused by the incident.
Let’s start with the background. Koepka’s tee-shot went right while he was playing the 428 yard par-4 15th. Koepka’s caddie Ricky Elliott and Koepka claimed that the LIV Golf Fan Village was blocking their path to the green when they reached his ball. They requested temporary obstruction relief.
Dom Boulet, LIV’s on-course analyst, said, on the CW Live Stream, “I don’t know what he is asking for”, who then asked Elliott about what was happening, , according to Golf.com. Elliott confirmed that Koepka would be getting line-of sight relief. He could drop either side.
Commentators are still confused.
David Feherty stated that “it doesn’t seem there is anything between the hole and him.”
Boutlet replied: “Well there are toilets there.” Ricky told me that it was line of sight. It’s probably the porta-loos. To be honest, I did not think that option was available. “I mean, he has to cut down a few trees to choose that option.”
Koepka picked up his ball, walked past some tents and walked toward the 16th. There he talked with a rule official about where he should drop the ball.
Tony Zirpoli, rules analyst on the broadcast, said: “Under the local rule he can get relief either side of TIO.” It probably gives him a much better shot. He’s choosing the smarter way by avoiding that side relief. It’s a long walk.
Feherty continued: “It’s for sure. It is unusual that there should be a large gap. Tony, he’s going walk to a point where he can see clearly?
Boulet: “He will drop on the 16th fairway.”
Zirpoli: He will be able to see the TIO’s edge clearly. He will get a corridor of one club length and from this one club length corridor, an additional one-club-length, which is the relief area.
Feherty:
Koepka dropped his ball on the 16th fairway.
Boulet explained, “I heard Ricky saying 167. That’s how they measure it because they want to relieve themselves at the same place — that distance.” Boulet said, “I didn’t believe it was possible for him to use a port-a-loo, tent or other option over there. David Blake, the referee gave him the decision, and now he has a great break.”
Feherty continued: “You grab them when you get them. There are plenty of bad luck. “That’s a great one.”
Koepka hit his second shot to 8 feet over the trees in front of himself, and then he made a two-putt for par.
A rule controversy also occurred during the Masters earlier in this month. Koepka, Elliott and Gary Woodland were involved. Later, he was absolved from the rule violation.
