What started as a relatively standard press conference quickly became controversial when Brooks Koepka, Patrick Reed and Pat Perez were questioned regarding their leap from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf. The three didn’t hold back as they voiced their displeasure with the PGA Tour, explained their career moves, and ended up headbutting the questioners.
Despite the almost chaotic nature of it all, the trio seemed to unite as Koepka took on the focus of the questions with the common theme of their responses being a focus on time: lots of time leaving. more time away from the game, more time with their families, more time to recover from nagging injuries.
While Reed and Perez had some comments with their answers, for Koepka the timing of this seemed completely wrong.
“What I’ve been through the last two years on my knees, the pains, the rehab, all this stuff, you know, I need a little more rest,” Koepka said. . “I’ll be the first to say it: It hasn’t been easy the past few years, and I think having a little more time off, a little more time at home to make sure I’m done. 100% before playing an event and not feeling like I’m being forced to play right away. That’s a big thing for me.”
Koepka hasn’t given up on the PGA Tour like Perez and Reed, but his schedule has been cut dramatically in 2022 as he’s only played 11 events this year and no tournaments other than the majors since from March. While he cites getting married, celebrating birthdays, etc. as reasons besides injury for him being unable to participate in PGA Tour events, it’s really hard to get a lot of time off. than Koepka has done this season. He even recently discussed the flexibility of his PGA Tour schedule.
So it’s no surprise that Koepka has only one win since the end of the 2018-19 season as the 32-year-old’s hips and knees continue to deteriorate – a difficult development for a man. he has dominated the biggest stages of the game. for three years in a row – while the threat of LIV Golf is clearly not.
“[Talks surrounding LIV Golf have] It’s been around a lot longer than you might imagine or when you first hear about it, says Koepka. “There’s a lot going on, and all of a sudden, this is happening. It’s a completely different thing when it comes to reality. And like I said, my perspective has changed. permission to change your mind.”
Koepka claims he was intrigued from the very beginning – since 2018 or 2019; however, two weeks ago at the US Open 2022, he declared his distaste at LIV Golf even being raised as a question. This was before his commitment to the tour was reported or official.
LIV Golf has aroused emotions from all who are interested in this sport. In a way, it’s a bit intoxicating to watch golf in the limelight, but the tumultuous controversy can’t overcome the hypocrisy frequently spouted by some of those involved.
“My opinion has changed,” Koepka said at the start of her press conference. “That’s it. You guys would never believe me, but we didn’t have a conversation until everything was done at the US Open and figured it out and just said I’d go this way or that’s it. Different ways.
“I’m here.”
