Latest news with #Koepka
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Brooks Koepka has lost his fear factor but will former Major monster ever get scary again?
Can American star return to that once a frightening presence at Oakmont Brilliant Brooks Koepka spent years striking deep fear into rivals on the Major scene. Five wins in golf's biggest events still puts him on a par with Rory McIlroy. But his last outing is remembered more for a spat with a mouthy fan and a social-media picture of him buying beer in a shop after missing the cut. And, as Kopeka prepares for the next big one at the US Open, the question is whether that once-scary Major monster still exists or has it been caged for good? At the age of 35, the American star has been lifeless in the Majors for the past year and a half and that's a far cry from the time when he once bossed them. Kopeka dominated the biggest events for over half a decade. In a six-year spell between 2017 and 2023, he won three PGA Championships, two US Opens and recorded six other top-five finishes. During one outrageous stretch through the 2019 season, Kopeka didn't finish outside the top four in any of the Majors and once famously stated that they were the 'easiest' to win. Asked to expand on that in the midst of his 2019 run prior to the PGA at Bethpage, he opined: '156 in the field, so you figure at least 80 of them I'm just going to beat. From there, you figure about half of them won't play well, so you're down to about maybe 35. "And then from 35, some of them, pressure is going to get to them. It only leaves you with a few more and you've just got to beat those guys.' Koepka, of course, has had savage trouble since then with injuries, most notably a serious knee issue, that set him back severely. But he roared back and the switch to LIV Golf didn't seem to have an effect as he stormed to victory in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill soon straight after a second place at The Masters behind Jon Rahm when he was already imbedded in the Saudi series having been one of the first key names to switch across. His work that year booked him a September place in The Ryder Cup side in Rome. However, fast forward from then to now approaching the 125th Open at Oakmont next week, the man once notorious for bullying the big days is barely on the radar as a potential winner. Since that 2023 success at the PGA, the drop-off has been stark. Seventeenth at the US Open before an also-ran show at The Open at Hoylake. Last year, Koepka was unable to strike a blow as he failed to secure a Top 20 in any of the Majors and the descent has continued this term. At Augusta, while McIlroy was making history to win his career Grand Slam and match the mark of five majors, Kopeka was already long gone having missed the cut. That wasn't his first missed Masters weekend, but it was a different story with the PGA. The three-time winner of the Wanamaker Trophy had done less than four rounds in his 12 previous appearances in the event until he got to Quail Hollow, but that record was crushed by a bruising dismissal following rounds of 75 and 76 leaving him nine-over par. Naturally, a heckler is never far away in that situation and, as he made his way off one off the tees during the second round with playing partners Shane Lowry and Rickie Fowler, the obligatory LIV jibe was fired by one mouthpiece who called out that's what 'guaranteed money does to you, Brooks.' The golfer responded: 'Want to come down here and say it?' Fire in the belly, but not in the play. Koepka still won twice on the LIV circuit last year, but the connection to that Tour and poor recent Major form is just too easy a reason to use. Of course, 2016 champion at Oakmont Dustin Johnston has also become a non-factor in the big-four events since moving away from the PGA Tour with four missed cuts in his last six outings. Cameron Smith is nowhere in them recently, but the strong performances of DeChambeau, Rahm, Patrick Reed and others in Majors since making the move from the PGA Tour mean that's too simplistic an argument. Whatever the reasons, Koepka, who is playing this week at LIV Virginia in build-up to the US Open, is not the Major monster that once scared the rest and it remains to be seen when, or if, he'll frighten his rivals in them again. Most golf fans surely hope he can.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina Gretzky at the center of alleged Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka rift during Ryder Cup tension
Paulina Gretzky is at the center of a rumored feud between Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka (Image via Instagram) Back in 2018, ahead of what would become a disappointing Ryder Cup for Team USA, a swirling controversy involving Dustin Johnson , Brooks Koepka , and Johnson's now-wife Paulina Gretzky threatened to overshadow the golf itself. Though both Johnson and Koepka have denied any fallout, rumors from that time continue to resurface — and Gretzky remains a central figure in the alleged drama. Gossip swirled around Paulina Gretzky, Dustin Johnson, and Brooks Koepka ahead of the 2018 Ryder Cup According to reports from Golf Digest and L'Equipe, tensions allegedly flared during the team's flight to Paris. Sources speculated that Koepka was 'comforting' Gretzky during a rough patch in her relationship with Johnson. That claim was never substantiated, but an anonymous source described the atmosphere in the U.S. locker room as 'horrible' for the rest of the trip. The Americans were defeated 17.5-10.5 by a united European team. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch Bitcoin và Ethereum - Không cần ví! IC Markets BẮT ĐẦU NGAY Undo Koepka and Johnson both deny any conflict, call rumors baseless Koepka, speaking at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, firmly pushed back against the narrative. 'This Dustin thing, I don't get. There was no fight, no argument. He is one of my best friends,' Koepka said. 'We talked on the phone on Monday and yesterday so tell me how we fought? I don't know. People like to make a story and run with it.' Dustin Johnson, who married Gretzky in 2022 after years of ups and downs, also took to social media to clarify their situation at the time. 'Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family. Thank you for your love and support.' In 2025, both Koepka and Johnson find themselves facing challenges on the course. Johnson needed a special exemption to enter Quail Hollow, having missed the cut at Augusta. Koepka, meanwhile, skipped the champions dinner and opened with a disappointing 4-over 75. Also Read: Wayne Gretzky's son Ty Gretzky shows favouritism, backs Rick Tocchet's return as Flyers head coach with enthusiastic message While neither made the cut at this year's PGA Championship, the old rumors serve as a reminder of how off-course speculation can sometimes eclipse the game itself — even for golf's biggest names. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Newsweek
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Brooks Koepka Beer-Gate Goes Viral amid PGA Championship Dismissal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Drinking beer is almost a rule in golf, especially if you haven't had a good day on the course. It is a tradition that even the biggest stars cannot escape, and here is Brooks Koepka to prove it. The five-time major champion had a horrendous performance at the 2025 PGA Championship, where he missed the cut by eight shots. The situation cried out for a beer treatment, and Koepka wasted little time in providing it. The X user, identified as 'Keith Blazkowicz, PhD, MD', was lucky enough to run into Koepka in the store while the LIV Golf star was buying his beers, and he wasted no time in posting it: "Went to QT to grab some beer after a rough 18 holes. I think this guy might be doing the same..." Blazkowicz wrote. Went to QT to grab some beer after a rough 18 holes. I think this guy might be doing the same… — Keith Blazkowicz, PhD, MD (@vegasmostwant3d) May 17, 2025 The post went viral in an impressive way, considering it received more than one million views and more than 14,000 reactions in less than 24 hours. Even more impressive is that the author of the post only has 227 followers and did not even tag Koepka. In the picture, which was taken on Friday, you can see that a clock reads 8:10 p.m., meaning that less than three hours have passed since the player finished the second round at Quail Hollow. There is no doubt that not having to play the next day has its benefits. Brooks Koepka of the United States looks on while playing the 16th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Brooks Koepka of the United States looks on while playing the 16th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 15, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images One detail that did not go unnoticed by fans was that the West Palm Beach, Florida native's beer of choice was Miller Lite, even though he is sponsored for a rival brand. Koepka signed an endorsement deal with Michelob Ultra in 2017 and, as far as anyone knows, remains one of the brand's top ambassadors. The 35-year-old has made numerous promotional appearances for Michelob, including two Super Bowl 2022 commercials. Proud to join Team ULTRA! Thanks for keeping me well-stocked. Hope to have something special to celebrate when I get back from Augusta. — Brooks Koepka (@BKoepka) April 3, 2017 The five-time LIV Golf winner carded a 36-hole score of 9-over 151, which prevented him from playing the weekend at Quail Hollow. His overall performance included six birdies, 11 bogeys and two double bogeys, with negative stats in five of the six components of the Strokes Gained series. This is Koepka's second straight missed cut in a major championship, having done the same at the Masters last month. It is also his eighth consecutive major without a top-10 finish, the first time that has happened in his career. More Golf: Jon Rahm soars into PGA Championship contention after masterful Saturday
New York Post
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Fuming Brooks Koepka challenges PGA Championship heckler: ‘Come down here and say it'
A fan who heckled Brooks Koepka at the PGA Championship on Friday unsurprisingly didn't actually want the smoke. Koepka, who missed the cut at Quail Hollow by shooting 9-over across the first two rounds, challenged a man who yelled 'guaranteed money does that Brooks,' referencing Koepka leaving the PGA Tour in 2022 to take a reported nine-figure guarantee from LIV Golf. 'You want to come down here and say it?' Koepka said to the fan, who was in an elevated, fenced-off area, in a video posted on social media. The fan did not respond to Koepka in the rest of the video. Koepka, 35, has five major victories in his career, tied for 15th-most all-time. He's captured two U.S. Opens and three PGA Championships, his most recent major win coming in the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. On Friday, Koepka missed the cut at the PGA Championship for the first time in his career, and that came a month after he missed the cut at the Masters. While he made the cut at all four majors last year, he finished no better than tied for 26th. In early March, Fred Couples raised eyebrows when he said during a radio interview that Koepka wants to return to the PGA Tour, which has stripped the Tour cards of any players that defected to LIV Golf. Brooks Koepka responded to a heckler during the second round of the PGA Championship on May 16, 2025. X/LIVGolfBuff Phil Mickelson called Couples' comments a 'low class jerk move.' But perhaps Couples, who said he talks to Koepka 'all the time,' was on to something, as Koepka did not seem like someone loving the LIV Golf life when he was asked about a potential return to the Tour later in March. 'I've got a contract obligation out here to fulfill [at LIV], and then we'll see what happens,' Koepka said at the time. Brooks Koepka hits an approach shot during the second round of the PGA Championship on May 16, 2025. Getty Images While his exact contract details are unknown, his LIV deal is reportedly up in 2026. Talks between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf about working together have yet to reach a resolution.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 PGA Championship: Brooks Koepka snaps at heckling fan, misses the cut at Quail Hollow
Brooks Koepka did not have a great week at Quail Hollow. Koepka, who missed the cut at the PGA Championship, got into it briefly with a heckling spectator on the course Friday. A fan sitting in a hospitality tent made a quip about LIV Golf as Koepka walked by. After taking a minute to process it, Koepka fired back. "That's what guaranteed money does to you, Brooks," the fan yelled, referencing the more than $100 million Kopeka earned for joining the Saudi Arabian-backed league. "You want to come down here and say it?" Koepka yelled at the fan, who didn't have much of a response. Good on Brooks Koepka to call out this loser who just squirms immediately after being a total idiot — LIV Golf Buff (@LIVGolfBuff) May 17, 2025 While fighting with fans for any reason isn't a great sign, it's easy to see why Koepka was on edge. He looked awful throughout the first two rounds of the tournament. He shot a 4-over 75 on Thursday, and then he fired a 5-over 76 on Friday to get to 9-over on the week — which was well outside the cutline. Koepka had six bogeys and a double on his card Friday, too. Koepka, who has won the PGA Championship three times, has struggled recently at the major championships — which is becoming a trend for many who opted to join LIV Golf. Koepka didn't finish better than T26 at any of the four majors last season, and he missed the cut at the Masters last month. Koepka entered this week at No. 354 in the Official World Golf Rankings, though he's unable to earn points at LIV Golf events. He's got an outside chance at earning a spot in the U.S. Ryder Cup team this fall, though automatically qualifying is almost certainly out of the question after his performances at the first two major championships. Koepka will have a chance to turn things around next month at the U.S. Open, a tournament he's won twice in his career. But with the way things are going, and the current state of things between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, he shouldn't be surprised if there are more comments hurled his way at Oakmont.
