AUGUSTA | If Brooks Koepka had been healthy when Greg Norman and the Saudi leaders presented him with their tempting offer of more than $100 million, would he have made the jump to LIV Golf last June?
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“Honestly, if I had been as healthy as I am now, the decision would have been very difficult to make. It would have been a challenge. But I am satisfied with my decision,” said the one who temporarily leads the Masters Tournament after the second day of competition, suspended twice due to weather conditions.
During the pandemic years, Koepka lost feathers. Injured more often than not, his knee surgery has slowed him considerably and even frustrated him, according to his account, not being the same fierce competitor as before, limited in his movements.
A work
Last summer, several golf watchers speculated that he signed his contract with the controversial new circuit to ensure his financial security given his diminished physical abilities.
For Koepka, 32, golf “is a job. I like this. But it’s not my life. »
Just before the PGA Tour Players’ Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a heated rumor swirled that the American with four career major titles was expressing remorse for joining the tour entirely funded by the Fund. investment public of Saudi Arabia.
Up to $600 million
Captain of his Smash GC team, which includes his brother Chase, it appears that Koepka could have to reimburse up to $600 million according to serious contractual information revealed by colleague Alan Shipnuck, of Fire Pit Collective, and Alex Miceli , from the magazine Sports Illustrated.
With such an astronomical sum, that’s a reason forcing someone to reconsider their decisions and suddenly express less remorse.
However honest, Koepka did not hide the bottom of his thought, when questioned as to whether he regrets his decision.
Another reason to prove that he expresses remorse for joining LIV is that he said he was bored of “playing with Rory [McIlroy]Scottie [Scheffler] And the others “.
Back with the best
On Friday, he also said that he is pleased to find the best golfers in the world for the first time since last July. And this, even if he rubs shoulders with them near his home in Jupiter.
“It’s mostly because of the competitive spirit. I miss it for competitiveness. You want Rory, Scottie and Jon [Rahm] deliver their best performance and compete with them neck and neck.
“I miss it,” he continued. It’s also why I think the Grand Slam championships are so fun to play. »
His speech is somewhat in line with that of his colleague at LIV Golf, Cameron Smith, who said at a press conference on Monday that “LIV’s trays are not as deep as those of the PGA”.
In short, in his first two rounds at the Masters, Koepka took on the air of the one who had signed four major titles between 2017 and 2019.
Cards of 65 (-7) and 67 (-5) put him ahead of Rahm at -9. But the Spaniard had only completed half of the course on Friday afternoon when the siren announced the stoppage of play at 4:22 p.m.
Before falling under the ax in 2021 and 2022, the American had threatened to steal the green jacket twice. In the 2019 edition won by Tiger Woods, he occupied the first rung after 36 holes.
Does he seem to be regaining the same feeling as during his dominant streak five years ago?
“I like my momentum and all aspects of my game. It’s similar, indicated the one who says he found his means at the end of last season. In January, I knew I was really back. My stamina, strength and mobility were good. I had regained my momentum. »
In history, only five golfers have won more than five Grand Slam titles. “It’s a box that I have to tick to really feel what I’ve achieved in this sport. »
Two other excellent rounds and a host of details still separate it from the coveted green jacket. Koepka is nevertheless in the right direction.
A CONTROVERSIAL 5
Brooks Koepka returned to the controversial event that occurred in the middle of the par-5 fairway of the 15e pennant, in the first round.
On the images, we see and hear his younger brother Ricky Elliott, a man of experience, shouting the number five and demonstrating it with his hand. Not far from there passed their playmate, Gary Woodland. The images therefore suggest that the caddy is trying to reveal the stick used to reach the green, which was indeed a 5 iron. A gesture liable to a penalty. The Rules Committee reviewed the sequence and questioned the two parties who defended their case. No penalty was imposed. On Friday, Koepka indicated the last thing he would do is help an opponent, especially since Woodland was also appearing in the main draw.
“What’s even funnier is that if Gary had known that I used a 5 iron, he would have gone for a 6 iron, because he doesn’t hit that short. He was 10 yards ahead of me. »
Verification made, Woodland was even 22 yards in front of Koepka’s ball. “We each try to beat the other. It was an unfortunate situation,” expressed the 2019 U.S. Open champion.