Brooks Koepka has never been one to accept the usual show-and-tell tour on television talk shows. After winning the Wanamaker Trophy, Brooks Koepka headed to Florida to celebrate with friends on a boat. He then took the trophy to a Panthers match. A man tied for 15th placed on Good Morning America, CNN, and the Today Show.
Koepka’s PGA Championship win was not a point-scoring platform, but there were plenty of scavengers who would do it in his place.
Claude Harmon III was the first to speak up, expressing his displeasure at those media figures (most notably Brandel Chablee and myself) who criticized LIV Golf for their avaricious exploitation of Saudi Arabia. Harmon is a friend who has occasionally gotten together for the past 20 years. But even his closest friends know that he’s a master at marketing himself by highlighting the achievements of others. This skill was honed since childhood. He was a snide, cynical jerk who would rather flatter royalty than ask about those they torture. In CH3’s defence, no one should have to endure a Chamblee response that was not governed by Twitter character limitations.
Phil Mickelson, eager to show his Saudi overlords how loyal he is, jumped on the Brooks bandwagon to claim that Koepka’s win was not proof of Koepka’s brilliance, but rather a testament to the superiority the circuit he designed. He tweeted: “Love it or hate it, LIV is the best tour to help you be at your best for the majors.” “Enough events will keep you fresh, ready and sharp. But not too many to wear you down. There are 14 LIV events and 34 weeks to prepare for 4 majors. Fact.”
Mickelson’s inability to distinguish between facts and opinions is not surprising, as he has blurred the lines between fiction and fact for a long time.
Greg Norman celebrated the win as if it was for LIV, and organized an welcoming party at Trump National, Washington, D.C., with all the spontaneity, warmth, and sincerity of Pyongyang’s parade in honor of Dear Leader. Jon Rahm was not greeted with such a show when he arrived to the RBC Heritage after his Masters victory, but no one wanted to take advantage of the Spaniard’s success.
Bryson deChambeau, his former rival, has also been working on a draft. It validates what we said at the start. “We’re at the top of the game and have the potential to win major championships,” said he, stating two points. Only one is demonstrably correct, and that only for a few of his teammates.
Koepka was not happy with the outcome of his fifth major. It wasn’t Norman or LIV, but Jay Monahan and the PGA Tour. Norman hasn’t contacted you yet. He was asked. He replied, “I just called my wife.” “That’s all I want to talk about.”
He continued, “I think it definitely helps LIV but I’m currently more interested in myself.” “It is a big thing for LIV but I am also competing in the PGA Championship as an individual.”
Koepka is a poor scapegoat for LIV. He openly dismissed regular PGA Tour tournaments, so the idea that he has invested in 54 hole shotgun starts to compete against the Andy Ogletrees and the like is fanciful. He did not participate in the Saudi-funded lawsuit, he has chosen to not criticize the tour that he left and he has not been an enthusiastic propagandist of the tour he has joined. He appears to be a man who is only checking off the required boxes.
Charlatans use Koepka’s success as a smokescreen while he goes about his work. The fact that he is still able to deliver majors does not negate the criticisms of Saudi sportswashing or the viability LIV. Sunday showed us Koepka as a predatory swimmer who prefers a shallow pool. But the days that followed have shown how many pilot fish are trying to survive on his victory.
