Brooks Koepka: “I’m not going to answer that because I’m sure everybody will tear me apart”

Brooks Koepka has once again demonstrated his prowess on the LIV Golf tour by claiming his fifth victory on the circuit, but he remains evasive when it comes to speculating whether he is the best player on the tour. His latest triumph came against Jon Rahm at the Greenbrier, where Koepka delivered a remarkable performance, shooting a 7-under 63 to finish level with Rahm at the Old White course in West Virginia. The decisive moment came in the playoff, where Koepka made a par with ease after Rahm’s attempt to salvage a three from the sand came up just short, despite Rahm’s putt nearly forcing an extended contest.

 

Since joining LIV Golf in 2022, Koepka has accrued a total of five victories on the breakaway tour, reportedly earning more than $100 million in the process. Despite his impressive record, Koepka was hesitant to engage in discussions about his standing among his peers. When asked if he considered himself the best player in the LIV Golf League, Koepka dismissed the question, suggesting it was designed to provoke controversy. “I mean, that’s a setup question,” Koepka remarked. “I’m not going to answer that because I’m sure everybody will tear me apart. But you have to believe in yourself and be super confident.”

 

Koepka also expressed that the year had not met his expectations, despite ending it on a positive note with his latest victory. He acknowledged the challenges he faced throughout the year, noting that the remaining two events would be an opportunity to finish strong. “I feel like this year hasn’t been — this year has not been very good. It’s nice to kind of try to end it on a high note. Obviously we’ve got two events left, so we’ll see what we can do,” he said.

 

While Koepka has excelled on the LIV Golf tour, his performance in the major championships this year has been disappointing by his own standards. Many analysts and fans of the sport have speculated that the major tournaments are where Koepka’s true focus lies. This year, however, he struggled in these high-profile events. At The Masters, he finished tied for 45th, and at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open, he tied for 26th in both tournaments. His performance at The Open Championship at Royal Troon was equally lackluster, as he ended in a tie for 43rd place.

 

When questioned about whether his recent LIV victory alters his perspective on his performance for the year, Koepka remained blunt and unyielding. “No, not at all,” he said in response. “The four majors were pretty disappointing. I think I’ve only had two chances to win and I won them, but that’s not enough.”

 

Reflecting on his results throughout the 2024 season, Koepka has had a mixed year on the LIV Golf circuit. His performance in various events includes:

 

– LIV Mayakoba: T5

– LIV Las Vegas: T12

– LIV Jeddah: T12

– LIV Miami: 28

– LIV Hong Kong: T45

– LIV Adelaide: T9

– LIV Singapore: 1

– LIV Houston: T9

– LIV Nashville: T42

– LIV Andalucia: T27

– LIV United Kingdom: T16

– LIV Greenbrier: 1

 

His results in the major tournaments for the year were notably below his usual high standards:

 

– The Masters: T45

– PGA Championship: T26

– U.S. Open: T26

– The Open: T43

 

Despite these challenges, Koepka’s performance on the LIV Golf tour continues to affirm his status as a formidable competitor, even if his achievements in the major tournaments have not met his personal expectations.